VLVLY - Really Cold Hydrogen Could Bring Driving Range Parity with Diesel | Benzinga
The goal of hydrogen and battery-electric trucks is to reduce the 12% of greenhouse gas emissions attributed to heavy-duty trucking.
Chill out: Verne goes deep into minus celsius for cryo-compression
San Francisco-based startup Verne is named after 19th Century science fiction pioneer Jules Verne,. He predicted the eventual use of hydrogen as a fuel in his 1875 book The Mysterious Island.
Verne is developing high-density hydrogen storage systems. It says its cryo-compressed hydrogen technology (CcH2) could improve range and payload for hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks and hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICE) by up to 87%.
Let's get the chemistry lesson out of the way first. The CcH2 comparison is to 700 bar. That's a metric unit for fueling that equates to slightly more than 10,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. At 350 bar, or 5,000 psi, Verne expects 200% greater hydrogen-storage density operating at less than 400 bar. Compared to liquid hydrogen, Verne projects 33% greater efficiency.
Cryo-compressed hydrogen is minus 200 degrees Celsius compared to compressed gaseous hydrogen. Gaseous hydrogen is kept at an ambient temperature of about 25 C. So, CcH2 is 225 C colder than compressed hydrogen. It is about 50 degrees Celsius warmer than liquid hydrogen, which is chilled to minus 253 C.
Comparisons to diesel driving range
For comparison, the Nikola (NASDAQ: NKLA) Tre fuel cell electric vehicle with a 200kW fuel cell advertises a maximum range of up to 500 miles on a liquid hydrogen fillup of 70kg at 700 bar. The Hyundai Xcient fuel cell truck has twin 90kW fuel cells and seven H2 tanks that allow a 400-mile range with a full load. A truck running on diesel fuel can travel 1,000 miles or more between fill-ups.
Nikola recently opened a liquid hydrogen fueling station in Ontario, California, that can accommodate 30 fuel cell trucks a day. (Photo: Nikola)
Meeting or exceeding diesel driving range is critical to broaden hydrogen adoption for long-haul trucking. This is especially true as manufacturers embrace H2 ICE led by Cummins' 15-liter offering for 2028.
Verne technology still theoretical
Verne's technology is still mostly theoretical. It plans to conduct real-world testing this year with fleets in Alberta, Canada. Verne will retrofit a diesel engine to run on a hydrogen-diesel blend. It tested its technology on a smaller vehicle in late 2023.
Earlier in April, the company closed a strategic capital raise led by Trucks Venture Capital. That brought Verne's total funding to $15.5 million, including grants like one announced Wednesday from Alberta Innovates. It will fund engine development and demonstration in collaboration with Diesel Tech Industries.
Verne ...