Aiming to be the hydrogenpowered
category leader
“But there is a certain pivot point where being only on batteries
doesn’t make sense anymore – the size, weight and
charging capability give you some limits – so for the bigger
groomers there has to be a different fuel source,” Muigg
said. At this point the only relevant one is hydrogen.
Prinoth’s Leitwolf snow groomer already complies with rigorous
Stage V European and Tier 4 final U.S. exhaust emission
standards, but like all diesel-burning groomers, it still emits
carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate emissions.
“That’s why we wanted to investigate the new path with the
electrical machines,” said Muigg.
Batteries and fuel cells both produce power by converting
chemical energy into electrical energy. Like batteries, fuel
cells have no moving parts. However, unlike batteries, hydrogen
fuel cells don’t run down or need recharging. Instead,
their energy is produced through the electrochemical reaction
that occurs when oxygen from the air combines with
hydrogen fuel in the presence of a catalyst, converting hydrogen
gas directly into low-voltage, direct-current electricity.
The only by-products are heat and H2O – water vapor.
The Leitwolf h2Motion aims to be the category leader in
hydrogen-powered machines, offering 544 horsepower (400
kWh) and immediate maximum 2,300 newton-meters of
torque from start – more than twice that of the Husky model
and even surpassing its own diesel version in terms of power.
The high-capacity motor is powered by hydrogen fuel, which
is pumped into the vehicle’s tank in much the same way as
diesel fuel is pumped into a conventional vehicle at a gas station,
and in about the same amount of time.
“When we go from diesel to alternative drives, we do have
to rethink the filling cycles,” he said. “With the Leitwolf concept
vehicle, we aimed for a final grooming operation of
four hours,” about half of the current diesel model’s normal
shift time.
“The aim of a concept vehicle is to be flexible and see how it
works,” said Muigg. “Both vehicles will be further optimized.
A market entry will depend on the test period’s findings and
further developments – the Husky eMotion will be faster for
sure, and we expect an introduction in one to two years. The
Leitwolf h2Motion’s market introduction can be expected in
about four to five years, mainly driven by the infrastructure.
“It may take a few years before hydrogen fuel is more widely
available on the consumer market,” for example, said Muigg,
and operators will need training to store and handle hydrogen
in on-site fueling stations. As both vehicles are still in
development, it’s not clear what they’ll cost. “More, for sure,
because of the available technologies. But technology is moving
fast, so we will see.”
The aim is to be flexible and see
how it works
Until now, snow groomers the world over have relied on the
consumption of diesel. Ultimately, cheaper fueling and maintenance
costs may result in savings, making electric alternatives
more price-competitive with diesel-powered vehicles.
“But the whole concept has to make sense for the ski resort –
the customer – not just from an ecological point of view, but
also from an economical point of view,” said Muigg. Prinoth
is still investigating a number of variables, some in consultation
with resort operators.
Climate change is impacting ski areas all over the world and
many resort owners are prepared to invest in green technologies
to attract skiers who, conscientious about their own environmental
footprints, are looking for the greenest alternatives.
Since 1993, the National Ski Areas Association has celebrated
the best North American ski area sustainability programs
with its annual Golden Eagle Awards, and more than 200 U.S.
ski operations participate in its Sustainable Slopes program,
pledging to “incorporate sustainability into all aspects of our
resorts.” Internationally, many resorts have also sought to
become more sustainable, from improving their snowmaking
efficiency to using solar panels, wind turbines and on-site
hydroelectric systems to generate electricity in their efforts to
bring carbon neutrality to their operations and earn Flocon
Vert, Alpine Pearls and other similar designations.
“The trend is toward environmentally friendly technologies,
and we want to be part of this direction as well,” said
Muigg. The Leitwolf h2Motion concept vehicle was displayed
during this past winter’s Ski World Cup races at Alta Badia,
and at the Cortina 2021 Alpine World Ski Championships,
both in Italy.
“Obviously, the ski business depends on healthy nature,” he
said. “We want to get the ski business to zero emissions. This
is our first step.”
GROOMING
32 April 2021 | snowopsmag.com
/snowopsmag.com
