Universal Hydrogen, a hydrogen fuel services provider, demonstrated operations of its AmpCart H2 product, developed with Oshkosh AeroTech (formerly JBT AeroTech), at Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles to decarbonize airport ground operations.
The AmpCart H2, scheduled to be deployed by the end of 2024, utilizes Universal Hydrogen’s modular fueling technology alleviating the need for purpose-built hydrogen fueling infrastructure and helping every airport to be hydrogen-ready. It also provides a near-term solution to the shortage of charging infrastructure for electric ground support equipment at airports.
“In the last 10 years or so, there has been a major push among airlines, airports, and ground services providers to electrify airport ground support equipment (GSE), but unfortunately the charging infrastructure is significantly lagging, leading to adoption of diesel generators for charging of electric GSE,” said Arnaud Namer, Chief Operating Officer, Universal Hydrogen, in a statement. “We aim to change that by providing a clean, hydrogen-powered mobile charging solution for airports.”
The fifth operational demonstration at the airport involved the charging of two DHL electrified tractors using a mobile AmpCart H2 prototype and portable hydrogen storage modules. Hydrogen modules are fueled with green hydrogen off-airport (typically near the point of hydrogen production) and transferred to the airport landside with existing intermodal freight.
The modules are then loaded on a trailer to be safely transported to any location airside of the airport for flexible and opportunistic charging of electric GSE between operations, which optimizes GSE operations, minimizes equipment downtime, and is scalable from small regional airports to major hubs.
“For operators of larger aircraft, however, a hydrogen airplane solution won’t enter the market until the mid-2030s, yet they still have a clear and urgent need to decarbonize their operations,” said Rod Williams, Chief Commercial Officer, Universal Hydrogen. “As these airlines shifted their focus to non-aviation emissions produced by the operation of GSE, we identified the ways in which our unique modular technology could be adapted to meet this need.”
Demonstration were also carried out at DHL, Mercury GSE, Fortbrand, Xced and American Airlines.
“True to our name, we see modular delivery of hydrogen solving the infrastructure problem for hydrogen adoption in a multitude of different applications,” said Paul Eremenko, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Hydrogen. “Doing so for charging of electric GSE is an important early step in the decarbonization of the overall aviation ecosystem, while also reducing risk and serving as an important proof point several years ahead of our regional aviation product.”
