Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) powered by hydrogen are climate-friendly and also powerful. The growing demand for these zero-emission drives is currently focused first of all on commercial vehicles. In Switzerland for instance, the ?H2 Mobility Initiative?, in collaboration with a significant automobile manufacturer, aims to introduce 1,600 hydrogen-powered trucks to its roads by 2025. By 2040, 30,000 trucks, 40,000 buses and 80,000 taxis in South Korea could have H2 within their fuel tanks.
Compared to the now widespread electric motors with batteries, the much more expensive hydrogen fuel cells facilitate a much greater range, with an identical power rating to a petrol or perhaps a diesel engine. Also, H2 vehicles can be refuelled in almost no time at all, when compared to the charging times necessary for batteries.
The capacity of a hydrogen tank is governed by its physical size but also by its storage pressure: The bigger this figure (commonly 700 bar for cars and 350 bar for trucks and buses), the more fuel could be stored in the tank.
WIKA pressure sensor MH-3-HY
To monitor this pressure, also for other pressure measurement tasks within an H2 drive system, WIKA has designed the sensor model MH-3-HY. The safety requirements for sensors of the kind have become stringent. Volatile must be certified as hydrogen-compatible and must have been designed for use in vehicles. The latter primarily affects the mechanical construction in respect of shock and vibration resistance, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
To crank up the sales of hydrogen-fuelled commercial vehicles and cars, the appropriate network of filling stations has to be expanded. With the model IS-3, for instance, the WIKA portfolio also includes a suitable sensor for filling stations, designed with explosion protection.
Note
Further information on Hydrogen, the model MH-3-HY and model IS-3 pressure sensors can be found on the WIKA website. Would you like to buy pressure sensors? Inside our WIKA online-shop you will find some of our standard designs. Should Desire have any questions, your contact will gladly help you.