Verne to develop CcH2 solutions for the U.S. Army

Verne (San Francisco, Calif., U.S.) has received an award to research cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH₂) vehicles for the U.S. Army. CcH₂ is a novel form of hydrogen storage that maximizes hydrogen density, extending vehicle range without adding extra weight. During this project, Verne will work with the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle System Center and vehicle manufacturers to gather requirements and model the operational impact of adopting CcH₂ solutions for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles used in U.S. Army operations.

The U.S. military, said to be the largest consumer of oil in the world, has begun to place a strong emphasis on decarbonizing its operations. In 2022, the U.S. Army released its first comprehensive Climate Strategy with the goal of reaching net-zero emissions from Army installations by 2045. Investing in clean energy research will enable it to achieve these climate targets, develop supply chain resiliency and explore novel technologies like CcH₂.

Verne’s CcH₂ technology involves cooling and compressing hydrogen to achieve a maximum hydrogen density at 73 grams/liter internal density, a 33% improvement over liquid hydrogen, and an 87% improvement over traditional 700-bar compressed gas hydrogen. This energy density improves range and payload, enhancing operational capabilities.

“The U.S. Army has been responsible for advancing many critical technologies and Verne is excited to work together to advance cryo-compressed hydrogen,” says David Jaramillo, Verne co-founder and CTO. “Verne’s mission is to provide zero-emission technologies that do not require costly performance tradeoffs, and this is a vote of confidence that the U.S. Army believes CcH₂ can meet their strict performance standards.”

Decisive Point, a venture capital firm with expertise in navigating the federal and commercial markets will provide strategic support on this award.

Since its founding in 2020, Verne has been dedicated to providing high-density hydrogen storage systems that meet the needs of heavy-duty transportation. In 2023, Verne announced a CcH₂ storage record during stationary demonstration of a 29-kilogram storage tank at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and completed first testing of its CcH₂ storage system on board a vehicle. Verne also recently announced a project to demonstrate a CcH₂ Class 8 Truck. The company is working with key trucking fleets and OEMs, as well as partners across aviation, ports, mining, and hydrogen distribution and refueling.