MIT startup says it can turn diesel trucks into cheaper hydrogen haulers — see it at Disrupt
Diesel is expensive and polluting, and LNK Energies says it has come up with a way to replace it with hydrogen, all while undercutting diesel on cost.
An MIT-founded company called LNK Energies has developed a way to transform traditional diesel trucks into hydrogen-powered vehicles, potentially lowering costs and environmental impact. Founder and CEO Sayandeep Biswas explained to TechCrunch that the new technology can make a Class 8 truck, the largest category of trucks, 13% cheaper to own compared to diesel options.
Hydrogen is attractive for long-haul transportation due to faster refilling times than electric batteries, although its storage and transportation pose challenges. LNK Energies addresses these issues by using liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), a liquid that can absorb and release hydrogen. The company's engineers have managed to shrink the LOHC reactor, the component that converts the hydrogen, down to the size of a mini fridge.
This allows the reactor to fit onto the truck, eliminating the need for high-pressure storage or compression, which can be energy-intensive. During operation, the hydrogen is released and burned in a conventional engine, with the truck’s existing engine modified only slightly. Alternatively, hydrogen can be converted into electricity via fuel cells for electric motors.
The LOHC can be stored in a standard fuel tank and dispensed like diesel, meaning the trucks don't require a unique hydrogen infrastructure. LNK Energies is currently testing a demonstration reactor that can power a small engine. In the next 18 months, they plan to install a larger version in a commercial truck. While initial costs will be higher, the company anticipates that operating costs will be lower than diesel within 50 to 100 trucks.
LNK Energies will showcase this technology at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco from October 13-15 in the Startup Battlefield pitch competition.
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