Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the energy industry. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked startups building hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Startups building Hydrogen-powered Vehicles out of 81
The insights of this data-driven analysis are derived from the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 2.093.000+ startups & scaleups globally. The platform gives you an exhaustive overview of emerging technologies & relevant startups within a specific field in just a few clicks.
The Global Startup Heat Map below reveals the distribution of the 81 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 energy startups that we hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. You get to explore the solutions of these 5 startups & scaleups in this report. For insights on the other 76 hydrogen-powered vehicles, get in touch.
Hymotiv develops Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Consumers and mobility companies are turning to electric vehicles (EVs) to improve sustainability. However, range anxiety limits the wider adoption of EVs. This is why energy startups are developing energy-dense batteries. Since hydrogen has the highest energy per mass among all fuels, hydrogen fuel cells provide more range than other electric mobility solutions.
Hymotiv is an Indian startup that develops a hydrogen fuel cell EV. The startup’s technology utilizes hydrogen-powered automobile propulsion systems and is retrofittable to fossil fuel-based vehicles. It also develops an in-wheel electric drivetrain and a harmonic drive emission control valve. Together, Hymotiv’s solutions enable clean and green energy solutions for passenger cars, heavy-duty vehicles, as well as energy storage.
Hype enables Hydrogen-Powered Mobility
The mobility sector is transitioning to electric mobility by adopting EVs for fleets. Electric vehicles also make the grid more robust by enabling vehicle-to-grid (V2G) solutions. However, electric vehicles still use the energy produced from fossil fuels. Since the production of hydrogen generally doesn’t produce any emissions, it offers a cleaner and climate-neutral alternative to petrol or diesel.
French startup Hype operates a fleet of hydrogen taxis. The startup’s taxis produce electricity from hydrogen in their tanks and atmospheric oxygen. They take only a few minutes to recharge and do not produce noise or carbon emissions. By providing a large network of hydrogen charging stations, Hype is enabling the transition to hydrogen-powered mobility.
KEYOU reengineers Engines to power Commerical Vehicles with Hydrogen
While consumers, as well as fleet operators, are increasingly choosing hydrogen-powered vehicles for new purchases, most vehicles on the road are still run by fossil fuels. Often, it is not practical or affordable for operators to upgrade their entire fleet. This is why energy startups are developing solutions to overcome this challenge. These technologies speed up the adoption of hydrogen fuel for automotive and energy storage applications.
German startup KEYOU develops new engines for new commercial vehicles. The company takes a base engine from an OEM and reengineers this engine, with its know-how and expertise in hydrogen combustion, so that it can run on hydrogen. Rather than changing the actual base engine, KEYOU fine-tunes or develops individual hydrogen-specific components – such as the ignition system or turbocharging. Depending on the desired degree of maturity of the engine, it can take between 12 and 36 months before the further developed engine with the KEYOU-inside technology reaches pre-series maturity. The startup is currently in the prototype phase for a 12-meter city bus and an 18-ton truck, both based on a 7.8-liter engine.
Hydrolux builds Hydrogen-powered Trucks
Range anxiety is an even greater concern for truck operators as most of their trips are long-haul. Moreover, heavyweight batteries mean that electric trucks carry lighter loads than their diesel counterparts. Hydrogen-powered trucks, on the contrary, provide greater range and load-carrying capacities than battery-operated trucks. Moreover, trucking routes are more standardized compared to personal vehicles, making the planning of refueling stations easier.
Hydrolux is a Canadian startup that offers hydrogen-powered trucks. The startup’s trucks combine the low weight of diesel trucks with the benefits of electric trucks. It produces its hydrogen from the electrolysis of water, eliminating production waste. Moreover, Hydrolux’s trucks run quieter and refuel faster compared to battery-powered trucks. The startup also offers hydrogen-powered cars, buses, and forklifts.
NanoSUN advances Hydrogen EV Refueling
One aspect where hydrogen-powered EVs lag behind conventional EVs is the infrastructure. The EV charging infrastructure is growing fast in metropolitan areas and beyond, but hydrogen seems to be years behind. This is a major challenge for hydrogen-powered EVs, particularly personal vehicles. To mitigate this, energy startups offer modular and easy-to-install hydrogen generation and refueling stations.
British startup NanoSUN provides hydrogen refueling solutions. The startup’s FillSafe Fuelling Hoses enables the high-pressure refueling of hydrogen-powered EVs. They are low-cost, easy to install and use, and prevent over-pressurization. The startup also offers a refueling station solution and a portable hydrogen delivery solution to further accelerate the transition to hydrogen energy.
Discover more Energy Startups
Energy startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on solid-state batteries, power to hydrogen, as well as EV charging. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing the energy industry, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more energy technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download our free Energy Innovation Report to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
