[Upcoming Hydrogen Economy] "Iljin Hysolus Hydrogen Tanks, Already 100,000 on Roads... No Safety Accidents"

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Yang Seong-mo, CEO of Iljin Hysolus, is explaining about hydrogen fuel tanks at the Iljin Hysolus headquarters in Wanju-gun, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do on the 6th. Photo by Jeong Dong-hoon

"There are already 100,000 hydrogen fuel tanks made by Iljin High Solus circulating on the roads. Although this amount is installed in 30,000 hydrogen vehicles, there has not been a single safety issue with the fuel tanks."

Yang Seong-mo, CEO of Iljin High Solus, said this during a meeting with reporters on the 6th at the Iljin High Solus headquarters in Wanju-gun, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do. Iljin High Solus, a subsidiary of Iljin Group, was established in 1999. The company develops and manufactures storage containers and tanks for hydrogen, natural gas, and other gases.

Hydrogen is difficult to store. To use it as fuel for hydrogen electric vehicles, a large amount of gaseous hydrogen must be compressed at high pressure into a small space. Because the hydrogen is compressed at high pressure, there is a high risk of explosion. Mass production of fuel tanks, which are key components determining the safety and driving range of hydrogen vehicles, is challenging.

The fuel tanks made by Iljin High Solus use a 'Type 4' method, which does not use metals that corrode with hydrogen but instead wraps carbon fiber around high-density plastic. Compared to Types 1 to 3, which use metal as the inner container, Type 4 tanks have more than 10 times the strength while weighing only one-third. They withstand pressures above 700 bar (1 bar equals atmospheric pressure) with a strength capable of bearing 700 kg per square meter. The technology lies in the 'winding technique.' Carbon fiber is wrapped thousands or hundreds of times around the high-density plastic container, and depending on the pattern, the pressure the container can withstand and the fuel tank’s application vary. Type 4 fuel tanks wrapped with carbon fiber tear like a soccer ball in an accident, preventing explosions and damage to the surroundings. Currently, competitors capable of producing Type 4 tanks include Japan’s Toyota and Norway’s Hexagon Purus.

Jeonbuk Jeonju-si Wanju-gun Iljin Highsolus headquarters exterior. Photo by Jeong Donghoon

CEO Yang said, "Since its establishment in 1999, we have accumulated technology through numerous trials and errors. In 2014, we supplied Type 4 fuel tanks for Hyundai Motor Company's Tucson hydrogen electric vehicle, the world's first commercialized model, and since 2018, we have supplied all fuel tanks for the next-generation hydrogen electric vehicle, Nexo."

The R&D center, completed in May last year, conducts various tests to verify the safety of hydrogen fuel tanks. These tests check whether the tanks can withstand extreme conditions such as high-pressure repetitive charging, external impacts, flames, and cryogenic temperatures. Baek Chun-ho, chief researcher at Iljin High Solus, said, "We conduct rigorous tests by increasing the pressure up to 1050 bar, beyond the product’s limit of 700 bar. We also simulate conditions similar to deserts or extreme cold climates to test the fuel tank’s safety."

The center, covering a site area of 12,249 square meters (3,712 pyeong) and a total floor area of 6,944 square meters (2,104 pyeong, 3 floors above ground), is divided into research, development, evaluation, and testing buildings. In addition to safety testing, it is responsible for developing future growth engines. Iljin High Solus plans to research and develop new products for future hydrogen mobility, including large commercial vehicles, tube trailers, ships, railroads, and urban air mobility, alongside improving the performance of existing passenger and commercial vehicle hydrogen storage systems at the R&D center.

Based on this experience and technological capability, Iljin High Solus is expanding its portfolio. The company is extending its business areas to hydrogen fuel storage solutions for commercial vehicles, drones, railroads, and ships, as well as tube skid equipment for hydrogen logistics. There are also continuous inquiries from overseas markets such as Europe and China. CEO Yang said, "Recently, Chinese hydrogen bus companies have inquired about establishing joint ventures and supply of hydrogen fuel tanks. As demand for hydrogen buses increases in Australia, the Middle East, and other regions, they are seeking Iljin High Solus products, which have obtained certifications from various countries." In particular, Iljin High Solus is strengthening cooperation with global automakers. In 2021, it was selected for a government-led global demand-linked joint R&D project and is developing compressed hydrogen storage systems together with BMW.