Alzchem to support the development of hydrogen tanks for the e-mobility market

Based on its successful additives for the composites industry, Alzchem has developed a technological all-in-one solution for more efficient fibre winding of carbon fibre-reinforced hydrogen pressure cylinders in order to offer manufacturers significant advantages in processing, surface quality and quality control.

Andreas Niedermaier, CEO of Alzchem, noted “with our DYHARD® Fluid System, we are addressing all types of e-mobility based on fuel cell technology, i.e. primarily commercial vehicles, maritime solutions and rail transport. This is where we first expect the breakthrough for fuel cell technology. However, we are also in discussions with manufacturers in the mass automotive market. Even the aircraft industry is working on hydrogen propulsion systems. Our goal is to establish our solution in the manufacturing process of high-performance hydrogen pressure cylinders as a key component in the market. We are currently talking to all pressure cylinder manufacturers in the world, German and European as well as Asian and American manufacturers.”

In heavy-duty transport in particular, ambitious fleet targets are increasing the development pressure on automobile manufacturers. Hydrogen propulsion is seen as a solution and a quantum leap. Alzchem is already working with several OEMs in markets where technology is at the forefront. In Japan and South Korea in particular, trucks with fuel cell propulsion systems are already marketable. An expanded product range for market entry in Europe will follow.

The goal of a German automotive group is to sell only zero-emission commercial vehicles in Japan, North America, Mexico and Europe by the end of the decade. The maritime sector is also an interesting market for Alzchem. Alongside Germany and an American-British cooperation, Scandinavia is a pioneer in hydrogen in the maritime segment. Another target market for fuel cell technology and thus hydrogen pressure cylinders will be rail transport. The world’s first hydrogen trains are already in operation on the German rail network. Diesel locomotives will also increasingly be replaced on non-electrified lines in favour of zero-emission trains.

Dr. Georg Weichselbaumer, CSO of Alzchem Group AG: “Manufacturers such as Daimler or Bosch pay attention to a high level of in-house value creation in fuel cell technology and want to cover many components themselves. With our solution, we enable the hydrogen pressure cylinders to be manufactured as efficiently as possible, but at the same time, we are not dependent on the respective technology or the specific fuel cell system. This enables us to address the entire market spectrum of e-mobility based on fuel cell technology. We want to make a contribution so that this environmentally friendly technology penetrates the transportation sector as quickly as possible and improves its CO₂ balance quite significantly”.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/product-news/02122021/alzchem-to-support-the-development-of-hydrogen-tanks-for-the-e-mobility-market/