Fast-Tracking Hydrogen Powered Vehicles With Filament Winding

Filament Winding has the potential to make the lightest, strongest, safest, uv resistant, corrosion resistant and impact resistant tanks for hydrogen powered vehicles.

Battery powered vehicles may be at the forefront of eco-aware automotive manufacture, but the eyes on the real eco-prize is in the development of hydrogen powered transport as an alternative to electric vehicles.

Why is hydrogen a better option than battery power? The simple answer is that it is cleaner and far better for the environment. Battery power comes with significant drawbacks, and the spent lithium-ion batteries are a concern. They are complicated to recycle, and there is a real hazard from batteries exploding or burning, and if any batteries end up in landfill not only is this still a concern, but in addition hazardous toxins such as heavy metals can be released.

Hydrogen on the other hand is an environmentally conscious choice of fuel; it is abundant, and produces zero emissions – you just need a way to handle its volatile nature – and that’s where filament winding comes in.

Carbon Fibre Filament Winding Hydrogen Fuel Tanks

Fuel tanks made from pre-impregnated carbon fibre tape are lightweight, durable, and crucially incredibly solid – by using a pre-impregnated carbon fibre tape, the filament winding process can produce a tank that is many more times more effective than steel at absorbing the energy of a collision.

This is a key safety feature that has the potential to fast-track hydrogen fuel cell development not only for commercial vehicles, but for domestic too as seen in Toyota’s hydrogen powered Mirai.

In addition to the impact resistance compared to traditional materials such as steel and aluminium, carbon fibre composites are corrosion resistant and uv resistant; an additional layer of safety from durability that could make hydrogen fuel cells the power of choice in hopefully the not too distant future.

To find out how Pultrex’s years of expertise in filament winding could assist your hydrogen fuel  research, development, and manufacture – give the team a call.