Transnational Production of Hydrogen Storage Tanks according to Local Conditions Has Become a Trend

Hydrogen storage tanks involve many new professional fields such as materials and mechanisms. Not all car manufacturers have the ability to develop them themselves. In addition, the initial shipments are limited, and it is difficult to form a sufficient economic scale. Relying on professional manufacturers has become one of the options. French auto parts maker Plastic Omnium has traditionally been known in the small car segment for fuel tanks and plastic shrouds rather than fuel cell systems. However, in recent years, the company has actively developed hydrogen energy-related businesses. Since 2015, it has invested more than 200 million Euros in the hydrogen energy supply chain.

And vowed that 40% of its turnover by 2030 will come from technologies that are not part of its current product portfolio. Especially in the area of hydrogen storage tanks, the largest hydrogen storage tank factory in Europe will be built in France by the end of 2022. It is planned that the annual production capacity will reach 80,000 in 2025, and the future global market share will reach 25%.

Plastic Omnium claims that the hydrogen storage tank module developed is characterized by providing a thinner system that can be installed in the floor structure of the vehicle, thus allowing automakers to flexibly integrate fuel cells or hydrogen storage modules in their architecture. To meet the needs of customers, the company directly set up production lines locally and provided local support. Its hydrogen storage tank modules are provided to the two major car manufacturers Stellantis and HYVIA, which are both located in France, and the new Hycity produced by the French bus manufacturer Safra, which has already started to develop commercial hydrogen vehicles. In terms of overseas markets, Hyundai Motor plans to launch a multi-purpose 7-9-seater hydrogen energy vehicle at the end of 2023 using the company's hydrogen storage tanks, and the annual demand is expected to exceed 30,000. The company initially invested 300,000 Euros in Gyeongju, South Korea to build a hydrogen storage tank production line to supply the demand of the Korean market. In September 2022, Plastic Omnium announced the production of hydrogen storage tanks in Michigan, USA, to meet the needs of Ford Motor F-550 Super Duty hydrogen trucks that benefited from the US Department of Energy's SuperTruck 3 funding subsidy. This Ford F-550 Super Duty hydrogen truck prototype will be equipped for a variety of applications including ancillary equipment such as lift baskets for power and telecommunications line repair work requiring high load capacity for hydrogen storage systems to rapidly fill fuel cells ability is extremely challenging.


Reference:
Hydrogen Fuel News, 2022-06-10, Tamy Hood, Toyota subsidiary Woven Planet creates exchangeable hydrogen cartridge
Auto evolution, 2022-05-13, Gustavo Henrique Ruffo, NamX HUV Proposes Swappable Hydrogen Capsules to Make FCEVs Practical
Hydrogen Center, 2021-09-09, Plastic Omnium wins a Major Contract With Hyundai to Supply High-end Hydrogen Vessels
Transmission Time, 2023-03-13, Kihoon Kim, Iljin Hysolus CEO "Hydrogen is not dangerous... Ultra-high pressure tank competitiveness"
日経クロステック／日経Automotive 久米秀尚, 2022-08-10, 3本合計110kgで距離30％延長 トヨタ「ミライ」の水素タンク
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ASIAE, 2022-04-18, Kwak Min-Jae, Hydrogen tank technology ahead of Toyota..."If we cross the threshold, we will surpass electric vehicles"
Kurdo, 2021-11-08, Iljin Hisolus supplies hydrogen tanks to BMW following Hyundai Motors
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Entreprises, 2023-05-30, Victor Cazale, Plastic Omnium, futur géant de l’hydrogène ?