10/06/08

New tanks for hydrogen cars

They are three times more lightweight than the cylindrical ones and one third smaller in size

A revolution for hydrogen-powered cars. The BMW research and technology department has announced important results on hydrogen storage systems at the “StorHy” French event at Poissy. Thanks to international partnership among research centres, aerospace industry and automakers such as PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Volvo and the Daimler group, new tanks have been developed, made up of composite material and whose size and weight are lower than the first generation ones.

Their size is one third smaller but the most striking element is their being designed on a modular basis which simplifies the tanks’ production process, enables a car to enjoy more on-board space and makes maintenance operations easier. “The demonstration model of the free-form tank being presented marks an important step forward into the hydrogen future – said Raymond Freymann, Director of BMW Group Forschung und Technik - Filled with ten kilograms of hydrogen, it could allow a range well in excess of 500 kilometres (311 miles) in a future vehicle.”