Cryostar, Verne to develop heavy-duty CcH2 fueling solutions

Verne (San Francisco, Calif., U.S.) and Cryostar (Whittier), a developer and manufacturer of high-tech cryogenic equipment and services, have announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a full suite of cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH₂) fueling solutions for heavy-duty station developers and heavy-duty fleets. The two companies will jointly develop and demonstrate technology for “future-proofed” heavy-duty hydrogen stations capable of dispensing both compressed hydrogen and CcH₂. As in past releases, the company confirms the use of composite tanks.

While heavy-duty hydrogen trucks currently use compressed hydrogen (e.g., 350-700 bar), industry participants expect to transition to cryogenic hydrogen storage methods (e.g., CcH₂, LH₂) to maximize vehicle range and minimize system weight. Cryostar and Verne are developing a high-flow cryopump compatible with both compressed hydrogen and CcH². Starting in 2025, the parties will begin demonstration tests and will target high flow (10 kilograms/minute) and high-density fueling solutions.

With more than 50 years of experience in the gas and cryogenics industry, Cryostar has developed several LH₂ pumps and hydrogen filling solutions for the hydrogen value chain that can be seen across various markets (e.g., mobility, energy, marine). Several hundreds of these LH₂ pumps are already in use worldwide, enabling Cryostar to develop expertise in hydrogen filling systems and processes, and to become a key player in the cryogenic hydrogen market.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that CcH₂ will be required to meet the energy and payload requirements of the trucking industry,” says Ted McKlveen, co-founder and CEO of Verne. “Cryostar develops best-in-class cryogenic pump products and is the ideal partner for developing CcH₂ fueling solutions.”

Verne is a developer of CcH² systems, including storage tanks for onboard CcH₂ storage and refueling equipment that converts gaseous hydrogen into CcH₂. In 2023, Verne demonstrated a 29-kilogram storage tank at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), equivalent to the tank size that would be used in heavy-duty trucking, and completed drive testing of a CcH₂ storage system onboard a vehicle. Verne recently announced the first demonstration of CcH₂ onboard a Class 8 Truck, set to take place in late 2024.