Hypermotive and Honda collaborate on X-M1 hydrogen system for maritime operations
04 September 2024
Hypermotive Ltd. unveiled the X-M1, a platform for hydrogen fuel cell-based power generation tailored to marine applications. Developed in collaboration with Honda, and underpinned by Hypermotive’s SYSTEM-X technology, X-M1 is a scalable, modular, hydrogen fuel cell power system that makes clean energy transition more accessible and achievable for maritime operators.
X-M1 is designed to bring sustainable energy and reliable performance to a variety of newbuild and existing vessels, including cruise ships, ferries, workboats, motor yachts and more.
Engineered by Hypermotive and powered by Honda, this collaboration marks the first proof of concept for Honda’s latest hydrogen fuel cell system in Europe. The compact yet powerful system has been designed to offer durability and versatility across a variety of uses, including fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), commercial vehicles, construction machinery, and in stationary power generators.
Designed to withstand the demanding and unpredictable conditions of maritime operations, Hypermotive’s X-M1 is ready for adoption across vessels of a wide range of duties and tonnage.
Its versatile approach seamlessly integrates with existing ship components, and its modular design promises greater flexibility for those new to hydrogen transition, with simple installation, maintenance and upgrade options.
X-M1 operates on a secure platform to ensure cybersecurity compliance, with advanced technology monitoring safety, reducing risk, and optimizing system efficiency and lifetime while maintaining consistent delivery of required power output.
X-M1 is built on Hypermotive’s SYSTEM-X technology, a combination of hardware and software products that accelerate the implementation of optimized hydrogen power systems using fuel cells, compressed gas storage and the connectivity of those power systems to their applications and the cloud.
The X-M1 is currently in development, with a view to bring it to market in the near future through a joint engineering process with Honda. Proof of concept (PoC) trials are planned for 2025.
Transitioning to the X-M1 hydrogen solution requires installation of the system on the vessel, with a customized assessment to enable cross-functionality with existing systems and engineering.
I can't find any details yet on the specs, weight, volume etc
If anyone has better luck, please post!
Posted by: Davemart | 04 September 2024 at 03:30 AM
Im sure the market is better serve by their actual boats and fuels. At time it was paddle, wood or coal or lately petroleum, it is still better than hydrogen and platinum.
Posted by: Gorr | 05 September 2024 at 01:10 PM
Honda has been developing fuel cells for decades they have an advanced design this will work as APU for Marine, but if they want to propel the ship they need SOFCs and LNG.
Posted by: SJC | 05 September 2024 at 07:00 PM
@Davemart,
You can download the brochure for the XM-1 here after registration and give them your e-mail:
https://x-m1.hyper-motive.com/
@Gorr and SJC,
Agree with you both that H2 is not yet ready for primetime. We will need a widespread H2 distribution system similar to the Natural Gas system in order to make H2 a practical primary energy source. This will be done soon in countries without NG reserve, and eventually in the rest when NG reserves will be exhausted. With H2 available everywhere, fueling with H2 will be cheap and convenient.
In the meantime, H2 from solar and wind energy can be added to the natural gas system to run combustion engine burning natural gas and H2 mix. The high-pressure carbon-fiber fuel tank is very strong and can serve as structural member in order to partially make up for its weight.
The compressed H2 and natural gas has additional energy from the high pressure and this can be harnessed to provide additional energy to boost overall thermal efficiency. Gasoline engine from BYD now can achieve 46% thermal efficiency, and with the recuperation of pressure energy from the compressed gas can boost thermal efficiency to 50% or higher, as much as 55%, thus rivaling the efficiency of H2-fuel cell. The pressure energy from the gas can be used to turn turbine that power small generator. Multi-stage will be used, and cold gas due to expansion will be used to cool the intake air to the engine in order to further boot engine efficiency. Gradual phasing in of H2 with NG will be the most practical way to arrive at the Green H2 economy.
Posted by: Roger Pham | 08 September 2024 at 01:55 PM