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For hydrogen (H₂) tanks to be released on the road in Europe, they must receive type approval under United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE R 134) regulations. The Type IV 700-bar H₂ storage vessel  with a 350-liter capacity tank from Voith Composites (Garching bei München, Germany) has recently earned this approval for road use, and is ready to be applied to heavy-duty trucks and other commercial vehicles. Voith says this is an important step toward the introduction of an H₂ economy and the decarbonization of the transportation sector.

During the development of , innovative materials and processes were used and set up from the beginning to enable automotive qualities and high volumes in production. Within the approval tests, the tank had to meet stringent performance requirements to receive certification for on-road service, including testing for burst pressure, pressure cycle life, expected on-road performance, fire safety, component isolation and a combination of these tests.

According to Voith Composites CEO Anna Pointner, “This certification is an important milestone following an intensive development period. It recognizes the hard work and expertise of our team in producing composites at scale for the automotive industry. Our emphasis on high-quality data is critical when ensuring absolute safety and consistency in manufacturing, which this certification demands.”

With UNECE R 134 certification, the towpreg-wound H₂ tanks from Voith Composites have underlined the maturity of the product and production and are now ready for serial production. The first well-known truck OEMs are already working to integrate these tanks.