The market for hydrogen powered vehicles now has greater emphasis due to its low carbon potential and is predicted to grow substantially by 2040\. The recent launch of advanced hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles from Toyota and Hyundai have showcased the potential of the technology and refuelling infrastructure is gradually being rolled out especially in Germany, Japan, California and the UK. The UK government has recently announced a £73.5m grant to JaguarLandrover to develop a fuel cell powered SUV which demonstrates a significant belief in the technology as a future solution for mobility applications. BMW are also actively working with Toyota on Hydrogen vehicle development.

Compared with IC engines and electric powertrains, Hydrogen technology for vehicles is still in its infancy. Opportunities exist with the pressurised storage of hydrogen to reduce costs, leakage, the user experience during refilling, and weight, all of which would improve hydrogens viability as a low carbon alternative fuel.

The National Composites Centre in Bristol has been conducting research into hydrogen storage and have identified a variety of areas for improvement as well as how the UK should develop its supply chain in order to serve this emerging new technology area.

Ultima Forma is a specialist manufacturer of advanced metal parts using their patented electroforming process. This process we believe has the potential to address a number of the issues identified by the NCC and this feasibility study is designed to assess by testing new electroformed material solutions for strength and hydrogen permeability.

The National Composites Centre will work with Ultima Forma to conduct computer based structural analysis of high-pressure (700 bar) tanks to make an assessment for how the overall structure could be designed in a lighter more cost effective way that incorporates Ultima Forma technology. A performance / cost assessment will be made together with other benefits such as improvements to the user experience.