Cryo... what?
Greater ranges for greener trucks.
The stock-exchange-listed enterprise Clean Logistics has teamed up with renowned partners to start developing and testing trucks with what are called cryogas hydrogen tanks and refuelling systems for fuel-cell trucks engaged in long-distance transport.
We’ve frequently featured in-depth articles in the ITJ reporting on how hydrogen is making its way in the world of transport. Now the Cryotruck consortium, which includes the commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus, the hydrogen start-up Cryomotive, the Technical University of Munich and the technology company IABG, has explained what’s behind the term cryogas, an extremely cold compressed gas that is produced from liquid or gaseous hydrogen.
As a result, cryogas tanks have an approximately 40% higher storage density and corresponding range advantages compared to trucks with conventional high-pressure gas storage of 700 bar; this is particularly useful in heavy-goods traffic. The technology can build on existing gaseous hydrogen infrastructure, or also make use of newly-emerging liquid hydrogen infrastructure.
A revolution by 2025?
At the end of January the go-ahead was given for the Cryotruck project, which has an initial budget of around EUR 25 million and is scheduled to run for three and a half years. By 2025, a first cryogas hydrogen tank with a hydrogen storage capacity of 80 kg, corresponding to an energy content of more than 2,600 kWh, will be tested in two truck models with different designs and drive systems.
Suitable for every type of vehicle
The technological integration and the construction of a prototype will take place at Clean Logistics’ facility in Winsen an der Luhe, near Hamburg. Its on-board cryogas storage system and energy-efficient rapid refuelling system for cryogenic compressed hydrogen gas should enable trucks to operate with a range of 1,000 km, and refuel in just ten minutes. Refuelling will initially take place at a trial refuelling station, using a newly-developed cryogas refuelling system.
Clean Logistics CEO Dirk Graszt says that “cooperation with our partners presents an opportunity to revolutionise heavy goods transport in the coming years. The fact that we’ve been commissioned to develop and construct a prototype shows our expertise in terms of hydrogen trucks. Clean Logistics can thus once again prove that our hydrogen-based modular conversion systems for existing tractor units are suitable for all emission-free drive types.”