Contact

CryoTRUCK Consortium launches development of high-performance “CRYOGAS” hydrogen storage and refueling technology for long-haul fuel cell trucks

CryoTRUCK consortium launches development of CRYOGAS hydrogen storage systems for long-haul hydrogen trucks with 1,000 km range and fast refueling

Hydrogen mobility startup Cryomotive, commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus, truck and bus retrofitter Clean Logistics, testing expert IABG and the Technical University of Munich join forces to develop high-capacity cryogenic hydrogen gas storage systems with fast refueling technology for long-haul hydrogen trucks. The goal is to achieve a range of 1,000 km per tank fill and a refueling time of about 10 minutes. The CryoTRUCK consortium has received a letter of support from the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) to fund the Consortium from January 1, 2022. This is the starting signal for the CryoTRUCK project.

Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport: "With alternative drives and fuels, we want to achieve zero-emission logistics on the road. Around 90 percent of the CO2 emissions in the transport sector refer to road traffic, with trucks accounting for a third. The development and testing of hydrogen gas tanks and refueling systems for fuel cell trucks in long-haul transport are a valid and important step for more climate protection in transport. I am very excited to see the results of the consortium in terms of refueling time and range."

The three-and-a-half-year CryoTRUCK project, with a total budget of more than €25 million, will focus on developing a first generation of a storage and refueling system for cryogenic compressed hydrogen gas (CRYOGAS) for heavy-duty fuel cell trucks.

With Cryomotive’s low-cost, compact and lightweight CRYOGAS onboard storage technology and a newly designed energy-efficient fast refueling system for cryogenic hydrogen gas, future long-range hydrogen trucks can achieve a range of 1,000 km on a single fill and refuel in about 10 minutes. High-density cryogenic compressed CRYOGAS can be produced from either liquid or gaseous hydrogen. The CRYOGAS technology can thus build on existing gaseous hydrogen infrastructure as well as make use of emerging liquid hydrogen infrastructure for long-haul heavy-duty vehicles.

The CryoTRUCK consortium unites leading hydrogen tank and refueling, testing and commercial vehicle expertise. Hydrogen mobility startup Cryomotive provides development and manufacturing expertise on cryogenic hydrogen storage and refueling technology. Leading commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus and fast-growing fuel cell truck and bus retrofitter Clean Logistics are contributing with integration and operating expertise and will test the technology in their truck platforms. IABG contributes expertise for setting up new test infrastructure for CRYOGAS and carry out tests on CRYOGAS tank components and systems as well as on the novel CRYOGAS refueling system. Three Chairs of the Technical University of Munich contribute with their know-how in the areas of modeling and simulation, concept development, carbon fiber reinforcement and metal forming technology.

The CryoTRUCK consortium has received a letter of support confirming the funding intent from the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) and started the project in January 2022. Starting in 2024, the CryoTRUCK consortium will test & validate a first CRYOGAS hydrogen tank system with 80 kg hydrogen storage capacity corresponding to an energy content of more than 2,600 kWh in two trucks with different designs and fuel cell drives. The storage system will be refueled at an initial test filling station using a novel CRYOGAS refueling system developed and validated during the course of the project. The aim of the project is to demonstrate the suitability of CRYOGAS technology for use in long-haul commercial vehicles.

The CryoTRUCK consortium
Established in October 2020, Cryomotive is a leading German hydrogen mobility startup focusing on developing high-density hydrogen onboard storage and refueling technology to enter the market with first small series applications starting in 2025. Cryomotive focusses on the proprietary CRYOGAS hydrogen storage technology that has previously been developed and demonstrated in BMW passenger cars based on the concept of one of Cryomotive’s founders. Cryomotive’s CRYOGAS hydrogen technology offers a range of 1,000 km with a refueling time of 10 minutes in long-haul heavy-duty commercial vehicles, combining it with multiple performance and flexibility advantages. As part of the CryoTRUCK project, Cryomotive will develop a CRYOGAS hydrogen storage system and its core components and test them together with the two truck partners MAN Truck & Bus and Clean Logistics. Cryomotive will also provide a CRYOGAS test refueling station with a novel CRYOGAS refueling system for test operations.

MAN Truck & Bus is one of Europe's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers and expert for transport solutions. Its product portfolio includes vans, trucks, buses, diesel and gas engines, and services for passenger and freight transportation. With its expertise in alternative fuels and drives, MAN is contributing to the CryoTRUCK project by packaging and dimensioning the storage system and defining the interfaces for vehicle integration. A MAN fuel cell truck will serve as the platform for integrating the storage system. After storage installation in 2024, the fuel cell truck will be intensively tested with regard to performance, efficiency and handling.

Clean Logistics is one of the technology leaders in decarbonizing the transport sector. Buses and tractor units are being made fit for the future by using modern hydrogen technology in conjunction with battery storage systems. Clean Logistics retrofits commercial vehicles by replacing conventional diesel propulsion with zero-emission drive and innovative control technology. In retrofitting commercial vehicles, Clean Logistics is leading local and heavy-duty public transport into a zero-carbon future, making a significant contribution to achieving national climate targets. In the CryoTRUCK project, Clean Logistics is responsible for integrating and testing a hydrogen fuel cell drive with CRYOGAS storage in a retrofitted diesel truck platform.

As a leading testing expert, IABG is responsible for the development and implementation of new test facilities and procedures to validate CRYOGAS storage and refueling technology. The focus is on component and system testing with cryogenic compressed gas and the qualification of hydraulic test procedures. IABG will actively contribute to the realization of this project with its expertise and testing capabilities. By contributing to the development of emission-free technologies, IABG will comprehensively expand its testing capacities in the field of hydrogen storage.

Three institutes of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), namely the Chair for Plant and Process Technology (APT), the Chair of Carbon Composites (LCC) and the Chair of Metal Forming and Casting (UTG), will focus their research support on thermodynamic modeling, storage and refueling station concept evaluation as well as on advancing liner manufacturing and carbon fiber reinforcement technologies.

For media inquiries please contact:

Cryomotive GmbH
Manfred Poschenrieder, Chief Communication Officer
Mobile: +49 151 70432837
Emaill: poschenrieder@cryomotive.com


Technische Universität München (TUM)
Ulrich Meyer, Head of Media Relations
Phone: +49 89 289 22779
Mobile: +49 175 1815456
Email: ulrich.meyer@tum.de
 
IABG mbh 
Monika Peters, Head of Corporate Communications
Phone: +49 89 6088 2030
Mobile: +49 171 7359565
Email: peters@iabg.de
 
MAN Truck & Bus SE 
Thomas Pietsch, Corporate Communications
Phone: +49 89 1580 2001
Email: presse-man@man.eu

Clean Logistics
Leonie Behrens, Head of Marketing & Communication
Phone: +49 162 205 47 44
Email: lbe@cleanlogistics.de