Hyperion unveils mobile station to solve EV infrastructure puzzle
Hyperion Motors, Inc., a hydrogen technology company, announced the launch of its Hyper:Fuel Mobile Stations™, capable of refueling both hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
The mobilized refueling station will be available across the nation, and can be easily deployed and redeployed when driving patterns change. Previously, Hyperion revealed its 1,000-mile range XP-1 in 2020 to demonstrate the benefits of hydrogen-ion storage over lithium-ion. Utilizing hydrogen-ion storage technology, Hyper:Fuel Mobile Stations™ address a primary challenge facing many commercial hydrogen trucks and battery cars on the road today: refueling and recharging infrastructure.
Investment into infrastructure buildout is plagued and delayed by numerous issues, including site selection, construction costs, and others. Many experts believe that this lack of refueling, and recharging infrastructure is the largest barrier to FCEV and BEV adoption. Hyper:Fuel Mobile Stations™ can travel to and from existing gas stations, big box stores, and other high-traffic locations to meet real-time demand.
Hyperion’s mobilized station contains a hydrogen dispenser for FCEVs and an optional DC fast-charger for BEVs. This enables it to service two separate vehicle segments simultaneously at lower cost and risk compared with permanently installed charging stations or hydrogen dispensers. FCEV customers can refuel in 5 minutes and most BEV customers can recharge 80% of their battery in under 20 minutes.
Hyper:Fuel Mobile Stations™ can be equipped to produce hydrogen on-site via water electrolysis. This decentralized approach means it can generate green hydrogen from the sun when combined with solar. On-site fuel generation is clean, green, and can dramatically increase station uptime—another major hurdle for hydrogen stations today. The mobilized station can be quickly deployed without long construction delays, opening new markets across the USA for automakers to increase FCEV and BEV sales.
Internal systems will include NASA and Shell GameChanger technologies to boost power and increase refueling efficiency. The roof is tiled with solar-tracking photovoltaic panels to maximize direct sunlight. Customers will experience state-of-the-art touch screen controls, contactless payment, and a self-sanitizing nozzle utilizing UV light.
In addition to vehicles, Hyper:Fuel Mobile Stations™ are designed to provide electricity as stationary power sources. By storing electrons for much longer lengths of time than is possible for batteries, the mobilized station can provide backup power across seasons to improve grid resiliency during weather emergencies or grid failures.
When asked why Hyperion undertook this challenge, CEO Angelo Kafantaris responded, “Todays’ energy infrastructure is pushed to its absolute limit. The industry needed a versatile, scalable solution to power our growing needs.” Hyper:Fuel Mobile Stations™ will be manufactured at the company’s 65-acre manufacturing HQ in Columbus, OH. Hyperion will roll out these stations across the United States to form a dynamic Hyper:Fuel Network™ with its partners starting in 2023.
