What if the airplane of the future was powered by hydrogen? This is the ambition that Airbus has set for 2035. In preparation, Air Liquide is already collaborating with the aircraft manufacturer and Groupe ADP(1) to develop liquid hydrogen production and supply future infrastructure for Parisian airports. At Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, the pilot site, Air Liquide and Airbus are working with VINCI Airports to develop the first hydrogen facilities by 2023. On the runway, buses, trucks and ground handling machines will run on hydrogen thanks to a distribution station. This station will also supply heavy trucks moving around the airport, thereby creating a local hydrogen hub.
Especially suitable for intense use by heavy trucks, hydrogen offers maximum range and fast refueling. With this goal in mind, Air Liquide has partnered with Faurecia(2) to develop a liquid tank system that will double on-board hydrogen capacity compared to gaseous hydrogen. The Group is pairing its expertise with that of the vehicle systems specialist so that they can co-design and co-produce hydrogen tanks that will give trucks twice the range for the same payload.