China unveils 100kg liquid-hydrogen fuel system that could allow a truck to travel 1,300km without refueling

China Aerospace and Technology Corporation (CASC), a state-owned company, has announced a new liquid-hydrogen fueling system for trucks. This system includes a groundbreaking 100kg fuel tank. Previously, German automaker Daimler tested a truck with 80kg of liquid hydrogen, which traveled 1,047km without needing to refuel. CASC stated, "China has successfully developed its first 100-kilogram class vehicle-mounted liquid hydrogen system, marking a significant advancement in the country's transportation sector."

This new system, named Track 1000, is fully produced in China and is a core component for hydrogen-powered heavy trucks. It allows these trucks to travel over 1,000km on a single charge. Despite having the same size as the previous model, Track 1000 can store 20% more hydrogen and reduces costs by more than 30%.

CASC also mentioned that this system meets international standards for quality, hydrogen storage density, and refueling time. Storing and transporting liquid hydrogen is challenging because it must be kept below minus 253°C. If it warms up, it turns into gas, increasing the tank's pressure, which can lead to explosions unless vented into the atmosphere or reliquefied, which is costly and complicated.

Daimler's truck uses 40kg fuel tanks with excellent insulation, allowing hydrogen to stay at the necessary temperature for a long time without active cooling.