Summary
- US Army is exploring hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles for heavy-duty use
- Progress in decarbonizing heavy duty trucks with cryo-compression technology increasing hydrogen energy density
- Army has tested fuel cell vehicles and mobile electrolysis unit for generating green hydrogen on the spot
- ARPA-E funding Verne for cryo-compressed hydrogen technology to address energy density challenges
- Verne’s technology can cut hydrogen distribution costs by 40% and has pilot projects in construction, EV charging, and remote events.
Article
Decarbonizing heavy-duty trucks has been a challenging process, with slow adoption of both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the US. The US Army has shown interest in hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles for heavy-duty use, alongside battery-powered electric vehicles. They have been exploring different technologies, including cryo-compression technology to increase hydrogen energy density. The Army’s interest in fuel cell trucks dates back to 2010 when they were investigating fuel cells for tanks and launched a small test fleet of GM fuel cell vehicles in Hawaii.
In recent years, the Army has continued to show interest in fuel cell trucks, showcasing the stealth advantages of electric vehicles powered by fuel cells and demonstrating a fuel cell rescue vehicle capable of going 1,500 miles between refills. Additionally, they have been testing a mobile electrolysis unit to generate green hydrogen on-site using local resources. This interest has led to a partnership with California-based hydrogen compression firm Verne, funded by the Army, to further develop cryo-compressed hydrogen technology for decarbonizing heavy-duty trucks.
The partnership between the Army and Verne aims to address the energy density challenges of hydrogen vehicles, particularly for powering heavy-duty vehicles like Class 8 semi-trucks. The cryo-compressed hydrogen technology developed by Verne offers improved energy density, allowing for a more compact system that can fit into the space occupied by diesel fuel tanks. This technology is propulsion-agnostic and can be integrated with fuel cells, hydrogen combustion engines, or diesel engines that can accommodate a hydrogen-diesel blend.
Funding for the development of cryo-compressed hydrogen technology has also been provided by Breakthrough Energy, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, and the Energy Department’s ARPA-E office. These investments aim to support high-risk, high-reward energy innovation and accelerate the deployment and utilization of hydrogen infrastructure. The Army’s interest in green hydrogen production on-site from local resources aligns with the goal of reducing distribution-related costs, with cryo-compressed hydrogen offering a potential 40% reduction in distribution costs compared to existing technologies.
Verne has reported significant improvements in energy density, cost reduction, and distribution efficiency with its cryo-compressed hydrogen technology, attracting interest from various sectors, including construction, warehouses, ports, and EV charging. The company has received funding from Trucks Venture Capital and strategic investors, enabling them to accelerate the development of on-board hydrogen storage for heavy-duty vehicles. The potential applications of cryo-compressed hydrogen technology extend beyond vehicles to replace diesel generators and enhance the charging station network in the US.
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