ICL and ECC have signed a three-year contract following trials on a cross-section of its truck fleet
Industrial Chemicals (ICL), a specialist in chemical manufacturing and distribution across the UK, has signed a three-year contract for the Engine Carbon Clean (ECC) service, following trials on a cross-section of its truck fleet
ECC is a patented on-demand hydrogen generator technology that cleans combustion engines internally by removing carbon build-up. Oxyhydrogen gas is piped into the air intake before the engine suck in what it needs, improving fuel efficiency and reducing toxic emissions, including CO₂, CO, NOx, and N₂O.
ICL piloted the technology with empirical testing at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford. Following improvements in emissions reduction and fuel efficiency, the company trialled the system on one-third of its 90-vehicle fleet based at West Thurrock in Essex. ICL achieved over a 7% reduction in emissions and fuel costs and plans to roll out the ECC service across its nationwide sites.
Steven Swaby, CFO at ICL, said, “Over the course of the contract, we expect to see measurable improvements in fuel economy and emission reductions across the fleet. It’s a practical and effective way for us to reduce our carbon footprint while ensuring our logistics remain reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible.”
Ben Kattenhorn, CEO of Engine Carbon Clean, by Advanced Hydrogen Technologies, said, “The trial results have been very encouraging and delivered tangible improvements – even after just two cleans – but the benefits will increase further with the recommended four cleans per annum. The process continues to optimise energy efficiency, reduce maintenance downtime and extend engine life over time, the more carbon build-up is removed, and also demonstrates the impact that focused and targeted measures like ECC can have on ESG compliance and sustainability.”
This technology is a powerful force in any decarbonisation toolkit and can enable businesses to meet their Net Zero targets.
Swaby said, “At ICL, we are continually looking at how we can improve our sustainability and environmental impact across our company, our operations, our trucks, and the work we have done with Engine Carbon Clean is a key step in that project. It will optimise the performance of our vehicles, the efficiency of our vehicles and ultimately reduce the emissions, which is key for us. As we said on our website, we are committed to having the greenest fleet in the UK, and this goes a long way to supporting that, with practical applications today.”
Kattenhorn said, “How does Engine Carbon Clean work, it’s very simple, it’s very natural. We create hydrogen through electrolysis, on site and on demand, and we insert a pipe into the engine’s air intake. This allows the engine to draw the hydrogen in; it pulls in what it needs, and then, for want of a better word, it gets inside the carbon and pops it off, thus allowing the engine to breathe. And when it breathes better, it’s got more power, it’s got more torque and is better for their drivers. I want to take this opportunity to thank Steven for his trust in us and a trust in the process.”
ECC can clean the entire engine without chemicals or harmful additives; no storage or compressed hydrogen is involved, hydrogen is not forced or injected into the engine, and no superheating of the engine is needed to burn off the carbon.
The modular system can clean any internal combustion engine, including small generators, family cars, LGVs, HGVs, commercial boilers, heavy plant equipment, locomotives, and ship engines, by increasing the number of electrolysers. It can work on any engine, diesel, petrol, HVO, CNG, LNG, and other biofuels, as all combustible fuels create carbon.
ECC tracks CO₂ levels with an ISO-calibrated emissions tester and records from baseline and at post-fourth clean, which indicates the vehicles' fuel reduction at idle. A measurable decrease in emissions and a reduction in fuel consumption follow as CO₂ and fuel efficiency are linked.
