Tag Archives: Hyundai

Fortescue, Hyundai and CSIRO to accelerate MMT renewable hydrogen tech development

Fortescue Metals Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyundai Motor Company and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to advance scientific collaboration and accelerate the development of renewable hydrogen technology.

The MoU outlines areas of cooperation involving the development and future commercialisation of the metal membrane technology (MMT) developed by the CSIRO, supported by a partnership with Fortescue. Hyundai will be seeking to demonstrate the viability of the technology for renewable hydrogen production and vehicle fuelling in Korea.

MMT enables ammonia to be used as a carrier material for hydrogen storage and transport, making the transportation of low emissions hydrogen economically viable, according to Fortescue.

Fortescue has a portfolio of projects underway associated with renewable hydrogen production, storage and use, including:

Fortescue Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Julie Shuttleworth, said: “This important strategic partnership with Hyundai and the CSIRO signals Fortescue’s ongoing commitment to the ramp up of a competitive domestic and global renewable hydrogen industry, to support the transition to a lower carbon future.

“It builds on our investment in new hydrogen technologies that ensures Fortescue is well-positioned to meet the demand for hydrogen as both an export opportunity and to contribute to the decarbonisation of our operations in the Pilbara.”

Hyundai Chief Innovation Officer, Dr Young Cho Chi, said: “This MoU will allow the realisation of the global supply of clean hydrogen, contributing to the successful transition to a hydrogen economy in Korea and Australia. This sets an example of the potential for a global hydrogen infrastructure business based on clean hydrogen.”

CSIRO Executive Director for Environment Energy and Resources, Dr Peter Mayfield, said: “A domestic and export hydrogen industry will require a highly collaborative approach. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Fortescue, alongside Hyundai, to ensure that hydrogen can play a role in supporting low emissions transport.”

Cummins to showcase electric prototype mini excavator at Bauma show

Cummins will feature an electric prototype mini excavator at its Bauma stand on April 8-14, showing visitors it is “transforming our industries, and innovating the latest alternative power solutions”, Executive Director of Electrified Power, Julie Furber says.

Powered by Cummins BM4.4E flexible battery modules (4.4 kWh each), the 3.5-ton (3.2-t) Hyundai excavator prototype to go on show at the company’s stand (A4-325) is designed to support a full work shift and charge in under three hours, according to Cumms.

Cummins and Hyundai are not the only companies developing battery-electric excavators for the construction space. Volvo recently announced it would launch a range of electric compact excavators (EC15 to EC27) by mid-2020, with the first machines to be unveiled at the event in Munich. Caterpillar dealer, Pon Equipment, has also recently delivered a 26-t battery-electric excavator to a Norway-based construction site.

Furber said: “We look forward to continuing to partner with companies like Hyundai to design and test the construction industry’s latest technologies.”

The machine eliminates all gaseous emissions and substantially reduces noise, making it ideal for use in urban and sub-urban construction, according to the company.

The excavator contains eight BM4.4E modules connected in a series configuration to provide a total energy of 35 kWh. Mounted near the base of the excavator, the Cummins-designed and built battery modules use lithium-ion technology to achieve a higher energy density and proprietary control technology to maintain the battery state-of-charge for a longer zero emission range, Cummins said, adding that the modular design allows for scalability to other applications and duty cycles.