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It was reported on Sept. 18 that (Île-de-France, France) has partnered with MissionH24 and has become the project’s exclusive supplier of composite hydrogen storage tanks for all car prototypes developed by MissionH24 to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans — what is said to be the world's oldest active sports car race in endurance racing — up until 2024. MissionH24, a project developed jointly between the race’s promoter, Automobile Club de l’Ouest (Les Mans, France), and GreenGT (Lausanne, Switzerland), MissionH24’s objective is to establish a category for electric-hydrogen prototypes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Plastic Omnium’s tanks are Type IV tanks — carbon fiber-wrapped shells with a plastic liner. The company says the prototypes will be used to test the technologies before using them in competition cars from 2024 on. These systems will be tested in both closed trials and races to demonstrate the potential of the zero-emissions hydrogen technology.

According to the company, the high-pressure hydrogen storage systems developed by Plastic Omnium will be subjected to highly demanding operating conditions in terms of speed, refueling frequency and temperature. They will be certified to automotive standards and will enable Plastic Omnium to showcase its expertise in Type IV tanks and strengthen its links with the auto manufacturers pioneering this technology.

“For this project, we’ll be developing systems subject to extreme operating conditions. Motor sport and large-scale auto industry both require performance, safety and innovation, and MissionH24 is more than a technological demonstration— it’s an amazing laboratory in which to accelerate our hydrogen storage innovations, working closely with auto manufacturers,” says Christian Kopp, president and CEO of Plastic Omnium Clean Energy Systems.