K-Hydrogen 'Hidden Champion' Iljin Hysolus... 'Type 4' Tank Impervious Even to Armor-Piercing Rounds

Storage Efficiency, Safety, Durability, and Price Competitiveness
Driving Range Increased by 150km and Price Reduced by Over 10%
Full Supply of 'Nexso' Hydrogen Tanks... Expansion to Drones, Ships, and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Junhyung] Hydrogen vehicles powered by hydrogen energy have faster refueling speeds and longer driving ranges than electric vehicles. The industry forecasts that the global number of hydrogen vehicles will rapidly expand from 40,000 units last year to 4.95 million units by 2030, growing at an average annual rate of 65.8%. Iljin High Solus, a subsidiary of Iljin Group (formerly Iljin Composite Materials), manufactures hydrogen tanks that serve as the ‘heart’ of hydrogen vehicles. Hydrogen tanks play a role similar to batteries in electric vehicles.

Safety concerns regarding hydrogen tanks have been an obstacle to the widespread adoption of hydrogen vehicles. Hydrogen is highly flammable and poses a significant explosion risk in case of an accident. Since hydrogen tanks store large volumes of hydrogen, high safety standards against physical impacts are essential.

'Type 4' hydrogen fuel tank developed by Iljin Hi-Solus. [Photo by Iljin Group]

First Domestic Mass Production of ‘Type 4’ Hydrogen Tanks

Iljin High Solus is one of the companies capable of producing fourth-generation ‘Type 4’ hydrogen tanks. Type 4 tanks represent the most advanced stage among commercialized hydrogen tanks. Globally, only Iljin High Solus and Japan’s Toyota have mass production capabilities for these tanks. Yoon Younggil, head of research at Iljin High Solus who led the development of the Type 4 tank, stated, "Our Type 4 tanks are so robust that they cannot be penetrated even by armor-piercing shells used to intercept tanks and warships," adding, "We have achieved superior storage efficiency, safety, durability, and price competitiveness compared to other companies."

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI), Type 4 tanks are 3.3 times lighter than first-generation tanks and 1.4 times lighter than third-generation tanks, while their storage efficiency is approximately 233% and 33% higher, respectively. Iljin High Solus explains that their Type 4 tanks increase vehicle driving range by about 150 km compared to third-generation tanks of the same weight and reduce costs by more than 10%. The company is confident in the quality, offering a warranty period of up to 20 years.

Hyundai Motor Company held a 73.8% global market share for hydrogen vehicles last year (based on SNE Research). Iljin High Solus supplies all hydrogen tanks for Hyundai’s hydrogen vehicle ‘Nexo.’ Therefore, Hyundai’s market share directly reflects Iljin High Solus’s market share.

Yoon Young-gil, Head of Research at Iljin Highsolus. [Photo by Iljin Group]

20 Years of Technical Expertise... Expansion Focused on Commercial Vehicles

Iljin High Solus began developing hydrogen tanks in the early 2000s. As a result, the company succeeded in mass-producing the world’s first Type 4 tanks. Yoon explained, "(Type 4 tanks) are the result of over 10 years of numerous trials and errors," adding, "Because they must pass various safety requirements, simply developing the technology does not mean the product can be released to the market." According to Yoon, it takes at least 6 to 7 years from technology development to certification, demonstration, and mass production capability, so there are currently no threatening competitors.

Carbon fiber is one of the core technologies. Carbon fiber is a special fiber that weighs only one-quarter of steel but has 10 times the strength and 7 times the elasticity. Iljin High Solus replaced the hydrogen tank liner (container), originally made of metal, with plastic to drastically reduce weight. By wrapping thin carbon fiber composites around the liner like a cocoon, they enhanced internal pressure resistance and durability, enabling this innovation. As a result, the tanks secured safety that can withstand over 60 minutes in fire risk assessments, which require 20 minutes for certification. The Nexo equipped with Type 4 tanks received the highest safety rating for hydrogen vehicles in Europe’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

The expansion of eco-friendly vehicles and the extension of hydrogen tanks to various mobility platforms such as drones and ships present tremendous opportunities. Hydrogen trams and railways are expected to be commercialized by 2025, and hydrogen passenger ships by 2030. The spread of hydrogen vehicles is particularly notable in the commercial vehicle market. Global automakers including Hyundai, GM, and Mercedes-Benz are accelerating hydrogen truck development. Yoon said, "Commercial vehicles will focus on hydrogen vehicles," adding, "Although hydrogen fuel cell systems for trucks are currently under development, once commercialized, they will be price competitive."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.