Delft University of Technology’s Eco-Runner XI has set a new distance record for a hydrogen powered vehicle on a single filling of hydrogen – 1196km. The urban concept car fitted with lightweight gas cylinders from AMS Composite Cylinders set the record at the R&TC track in Helmond on 5th – 6th July 2021.
The successful attempt took the team of 7 drivers more than 36 hours in challenging weather conditions, and broke the record set by the Toyota Mirai, which covered 623 miles (1002.6km) without refuelling during the Paris de l’hydrogène exhibition earlier in June.
To achieve the goal, Eco Runner XI was fitted with two ultra-lightweight, high pressure (300 bar) Type 3 carbon composite cylinders from AMS Composite Cylinders. The 9L cylinders held a total of around 450g of hydrogen when full.
Reinout Sterk, Chief Engineer at Eco-Runner, explains:
“It’s an amazing achievement, and I’m really proud of the whole team. It was a real test of endurance for the drivers and the car, and despite the heavy rain, Eco-Runner XI delivered. We’re delighted to have achieved the record. It’s not just about Eco-Runner – it’s testament to the real world potential of hydrogen vehicles.
“To deliver on challenges like this, every gram of weight matters, and we needed a gas cylinder that was lightweight, durable and space efficient. AMS Composite Cylinders provided the ideal solution – the 300 bar pressure gave us the extra capacity we needed without taking up extra space.”
The distance record follows the Eco-Runner team’s victory at the 2021 Hydrogen Efficiency Challenge on June 11th – where it achieved an incredible efficiency of 3,396 km/kg, beating other hydrogen vehicle teams from across Holland.
Going forward, the Eco-Runner team will continue to develop new vehicles and compete in hydrogen efficiency challenges, as part of its commitment to promoting a sustainable future by building the world’s most efficient hydrogen city car.
Eco-Runner Team Delft was founded in 2005 by a team of Aerospace Engineering Students. Eco-Runner XI is the latest in a series of vehicles that has successfully competed in eco-marathons and hydrogen efficiency events across the world.
Eco-Runner XI competes as an Urban Concept vehicle – a category that requires the vehicle to have familiar road car features, such as windscreen wipers, lights and a luggage compartment. Previously, the team had competed in the Prototype class, which had no such restrictions.
AMS Composite Cylinders have a proven history in innovative hydrogen fuel cell applications, having supplied lightweight Type 3 cylinders to Europe’s first hydrogen powered drone, and the world’s first hydrogen e-bike for the G7 summit in 2019.
The company supplies state of the art, lightweight gas cylinders to clients across the UK and Europe. AMS Type 3 carbon composite cylinders offer high pressure (300 Bar), ultra-low weight, and optional NLL (Non-Limited Life) performance. They are produced to recognised global standards and accreditations, including ISO 11119-2, EN12245, UN-TPED Pi, DOT (USA) and TC (Canada).
AMS cylinders are in widespread use across a wide range of healthcare, emergency, breathing air, aviation, speciality gas and hydrogen fuel cell applications.
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