Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) announced a joint industry project (JIP) to help spur the growth and innovation of fueling and infrastructure for hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles. SwRI’s H2HD REFUEL (Hydrogen Heavy Duty Refueling Equipment and Facilities Utilization Evaluation Laboratory) JIP aims to strengthen the acceptance of hydrogen fuel use by heavy-duty vehicles to help the mobility industry meet its decarbonization and zero-emissions goals by advancing hydrogen refueling station (HRS) technologies.

Over the next four years, SwRI researchers will use hands-on experiments, system modeling and theoretical studies to strengthen existing HRS equipment and procedures and explore potential alternatives.

There are less than sixty hydrogen refueling stations in the U.S., but only one or two currently exist that can meet the specific needs of heavy-duty hydrogen-powered vehicles. Many light-duty hydrogen stations face significant technical challenges, including supply chain issues, mechanical failures, and lack of infrastructure. Considering the multimillion-dollar investment per station, these issues reflect a significant technology gap that industry and government must bridge before building additional heavy-duty refueling stations.

—Dr. Thomas E. Briggs, Jr., Institute engineer with SwRI’s Powertrain Engineering Division

The H2HD REFUEL JIP hopes to address these issues by connecting hydrogen vehicle manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and refueling station operators to develop innovative, dependable and compatible HRS technologies.

The four-year program will investigate a broad range of HRS-related topics to help solve existing technical challenges, such as discovering the best onboard hydrogen storage method: liquid, H70 gas or cryo-compression, and comparing the performances of refueling station flow components. The JIP also plans to study hydrogen losses from cryogenic systems that occur from boil-off and system inefficiencies.

H2HD REFUEL members will benefit from access to SwRI-led research and hydrogen storage system models. Members can also participate in interactive workshops and bi-annual meetings for networking and knowledge sharing and gain valuable economic and performance insights for different hydrogen storage systems.