Technology
MIT Startup Converts Diesel Trucks to Hydrogen for Lower Costs
LNK Energies, an MIT-based startup, has developed a novel technology to retrofit heavy-duty diesel trucks to run on hydrogen. By utilizing liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), the company avoids the need for high-pressure storage tanks and specialized refueling infrastructure, allowing trucks to use existing fuel station setups. The system features a compact, refrigerator-sized reactor that extracts hydrogen from the liquid carrier on board the vehicle. This process utilizes waste heat from the engine, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional high-pressure hydrogen storage methods.