700 bar hydrogen vessels for heavy duty trucks
We are shaping the future by industrializing and automating clean and fast production of type IV high-pressure H2 tanks made with towpreg filament winding technology.
As an automotive supplier, we bring to the table over 10 years of composites experience in high-volume production, which we are now using to develop and mass-produce 700 bar type IV hydrogen storage systems. Our towpregs have a high filament count and are pre-impregnated with an optimal quantity of resin.
Carbon fiber composites for high-pressure hydrogen tanks
Leveraging our experience and know-how in filament winding products, such as CFRP rolls for paper machines, we are building higher storage capacity tanks without compromising safety at high pressures. Not only do we have solid experience in the concept, design, and prototype building of complex automotive parts, but we’re also experts in series production. By enabling the best cost-performance ratio, Carbon4Tank is an ideal and sustainable solution for storing hydrogen, meeting automotive quality standards.
Key features
- Automotive quality standard - 10 years of experience in series production
- Towpregs - lower material consumption and higher process accuracy
- Fast, clean, and economical production
- Robust and flexible sealing concept - down to -60°C (-76° F)
- Subject to in-house and external safety tests CFRP material recycling concept - sustainability strategy since 2012
- Lighter than tanks manufactured by conventional wet filament winding
- Industrialized production process - Composites 4.0 experience
- Smart factory facilities - digital quality control, data exchange, and traceability
- Certification according to UN ECE R134 in 2023
- Integrated in the Voith Plug & Drive H₂ Storage System as a ready to use storage solution for heavy duty vehicles
Application - Voith Plug & Drive H₂ Storage System
The Plug & Drive H₂ Storage System uses Carbon4Tank and focuses on deep customer integration, sustainability, and circularity over the product lifecycle. It is a complete systems for heavy-duty vehicles - from the tank nozzle to the fuel cell inlet or combustion engine.
The H₂ periphery consists of EC79/R134-certified valves and pressure regulators as well as the complete piping with all emergency functions, including leak and function tests prior to delivery. The tanks are installed vertically, which provides higher crash protection of the valves compared to other market vessel solutions.
News
First certified H2 tank with 700 bar and 350 litres is now approved for on-road use
For hydrogen tanks to be released on the road, the law defines that they must be certified beforehand. In Europe, type approval on H2 tank systems is governed by the regulation UNECE R 134. Now, for the first time, a Type IV 700 bar and 350 litre hydrogen capacity tank has been approved for road use under the guidelines of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Read the full release
We're developing recycling solutions for hydrogen storage tanks and manufacturing methods to produce automotive parts from the recycled materials. Our focus lies on advancing two distinct recycling approaches in particular: one tailored for recycling of manufacturing scraps, and the other designed for end-of-life (EOL) components like hydrogen tanks. Read more in CompositesWorld's article.
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