H₂Hybat Project
The Hybrid Solution to Range Anxiety
Battery EVs are great for daily commutes, but long journeys mean long charging stops. The H₂Hybat project by Edag and Hexagon Purus introduces a revolutionary hybrid storage system, combining the convenience of batteries with the rapid refueling of hydrogen to deliver the best of both worlds.
Interactive Configuration Explorer
The core of the H₂Hybat system is its flexibility. The vehicle’s underfloor chassis can hold up to 10 modular energy packs. As a user, you could configure the mix of hydrogen tanks and battery modules to perfectly suit your driving needs. Use the slider below to see how different configurations impact the vehicle’s range and performance.
Your Vehicle Configuration
Vehicle Chassis Modules
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A balanced mix for both daily driving and occasional long trips.
Simulated Performance (WLTP)
Technology Deep Dive
The H₂Hybat system is more than just a concept; it’s a collection of advanced engineering solutions. From the modular platform to the specific components used for hydrogen and battery storage, every part is designed for efficiency, safety, and performance. Click on the tabs below to learn more about the key technologies that make this system possible.
The Foundation: Edag ScaleBase
The entire system is built upon a flexible “skateboard” chassis known as the Edag ScaleBase. This platform is specifically designed for electric vehicles, providing a flat underfloor space that is ideal for integrating energy storage modules. Its key advantage is its inherent modularity, allowing the H₂Hybat system to seamlessly replace standard battery packs with a custom mix of hydrogen and battery modules without altering the vehicle’s core structure. This adaptability is crucial for offering customized configurations to different users.
Advanced Hydrogen Storage
The hydrogen is stored in **Type IV containers**, which are the most advanced type available. They consist of a gas-tight plastic liner wrapped in multiple layers of high-strength carbon fiber. This composite structure is incredibly lightweight yet strong enough to handle operating pressures of **700 bar**.
Each tank is held by a **”neck-mount” principle**, which allows it to expand slightly (about 1%) during refueling without stressing the vehicle structure. The tanks are further protected by a cage-like steel structure, ensuring their integrity in all conditions.
Safe & Powerful Battery Modules
The battery modules use **Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)** cells. This chemistry was chosen for several key reasons:
- Enhanced Safety: LFP cells are more thermally stable and less prone to thermal runaway compared to other chemistries like LNMC, making them inherently safer in case of fire or crash damage.
- High Power Output: They can deliver high power, ensuring that even a small number of battery modules can provide the vehicle’s full 150 kW of drive power when needed.
- Lower Cost & Longevity: LFP cells are generally more affordable and offer a longer cycle life, which is ideal for a flexible, long-term vehicle solution.
A Revolutionary Valve Concept
Traditionally, every single hydrogen tank in a vehicle needs its own set of expensive and bulky safety valves. H₂Hybat introduces a groundbreaking **combined valve concept**. Instead of individual valving, a single, centralized valve block is used for each module, serving two or three tanks at once. This smart design dramatically reduces weight, cost, and complexity, while freeing up valuable space to increase the vehicle’s total hydrogen storage capacity. This innovation is so significant that it is helping to shape future automotive safety regulations.
Innovations in Safety
Safety is the highest priority in the H₂Hybat project. The system incorporates multiple layers of protection that exceed current legal requirements, ensuring the safety of occupants in all conceivable scenarios. Below are the key safety innovations, including a truly unique active crash protection system.
🛡️ Underbody Shielding
A reinforced metal plate runs along the vehicle floor, protecting the tanks and batteries from impacts from below, such as driving over a bollard or large road debris. The plates overlap to ensure a continuous, sealed shield.
🔥 Advanced Fire Protection
Each module is shielded by a barrier made of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic coated with **expandable graphite**. In the event of a fire, the graphite expands to form a thick, insulating layer, protecting the energy storage systems from extreme heat.
💥 NCAP & Beyond
Simulations confirm the H₂Hybat system can pass all standard NCAP crash test scenarios, including frontal, small overlap, and the challenging side-pole impact, without damage to the storage system.
Unique Side-Impact Protection System
This is H₂Hybat’s most innovative safety feature. For side impacts that exceed standard test forces, the system is designed to actively move the storage module out of the direct load path to prevent catastrophic damage.
The storage frame has an **inclined plane** where it meets the vehicle’s sill. During a severe side impact, if the force on a specific screw connection exceeds a preset threshold, the connection is designed to release. The force of the impact on the inclined plane then pushes the entire module **downwards**, away from the intrusion. Retaining straps ensure the module stays connected to the vehicle, but it is safely moved out of the primary crash zone, preventing hydrogen leakage.
