Cryostar, Verne to develop heavy-duty CcH2 fueling solutions
The parties will develop composites-intensive station equipment capable of refueling both compressed hydrogen and CcH2, enabling low-cost, future-proofed refueling stations.
Source | Verne
Verne (San Francisco, Calif., U.S.) and (Whittier), a developer and manufacturer of high-tech cryogenic equipment and services, have announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a full suite of cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH2) fueling solutions for heavy-duty station developers and heavy-duty fleets. The two companies will jointly develop and demonstrate technology for “future-proofed” heavy-duty hydrogen stations capable of dispensing both compressed hydrogen and CcH2. As in past releases, the company confirms the use of composite tanks.
While heavy-duty hydrogen trucks currently use compressed hydrogen (e.g., 350-700 bar), industry participants expect to transition to cryogenic hydrogen storage methods (e.g., CcH2, LH2) to maximize vehicle range and minimize system weight. Cryostar and Verne are developing a high-flow cryopump compatible with both compressed hydrogen and CcH2. Starting in 2025, the parties will begin demonstration tests and will target high flow (10 kilograms/minute) and high-density fueling solutions.
With more than 50 years of experience in the gas and cryogenics industry, Cryostar has developed several LH2 pumps and hydrogen filling solutions for the hydrogen value chain that can be seen across various markets (e.g., mobility, energy, marine). Several hundreds of these LH2 pumps are already in use worldwide, enabling Cryostar to develop expertise in hydrogen filling systems and processes, and to become a key player in the cryogenic hydrogen market.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that CcH2 will be required to meet the energy and payload requirements of the trucking industry,” says Ted McKlveen, co-founder and CEO of Verne. “Cryostar develops best-in-class cryogenic pump products and is the ideal partner for developing CcH2 fueling solutions.”
Verne is a developer of CcH2 systems, including storage tanks for onboard CcH2 storage and refueling equipment that converts gaseous hydrogen into CcH2. In 2023, Verne demonstrated a 29-kilogram storage tank at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), equivalent to the tank size that would be used in heavy-duty trucking, and completed drive testing of a CcH2 storage system onboard a vehicle. Verne recently announced the first demonstration of CcH2 onboard a Class 8 Truck, set to take place in late 2024.
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