NICE’s Liquid Hydrogen Refueling System Pioneers Commercial Use for Heavy Trucks

The National Institute of Clean-and-low-carbon Energy (NICE) under China Energy Investment Corporation has developed the world’s first liquid hydrogen refueling system featuring submersible pumps. On May 12, the system was put into commercial use for Nikola Corporation’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered heavy trucks in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States.

Since January 2022, the liquid hydrogen refueling system developed by NICE has been put into pilot use for hydrogen fuel cell-powered heavy trucks, which showed great performance in terms of refueling speed, storage capacity, reliability, and cost. The system has drawn high attention from mainstream companies and investors in the hydrogen energy industry. As important partners and clients of NICE, Nikola and South Korea-based Hyundai have both spoken highly of the institute’s liquid hydrogen refueling technology.

NICE’s liquid hydrogen refueling system refuels a Nikola heavy truck.

NICE’s liquid hydrogen refueling system refuels a Hyundai heavy truck.

NICE has completed the R&D of a 35/70MPa refueling system, which has been put into pilot commercial use for buses and heavy trucks. To date, NICE’s liquid hydrogen refueling system has completed more than 400 commercial use demonstrations, refueling more than 10 tons of liquid hydrogen and achieving long-term faultless operation.

The innovative liquid hydrogen refueling technology achieves safe, efficient, high-capacity and unlimited continuous refueling, with many of its indexes reaching the world-leading level. It can provide quick, uninterrupted refueling service for hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle fleets.