KIT/Hauser

To decarbonize the transport sector, heavy commercial vehicles and non-road mobile work machines are increasingly coming into focus. Vehicle and engine manufacturers, suppliers and science therefore joined in the “PoWer” project to comprehensively investigate the cross-application use of hydrogen powertrain concepts for construction and agricultural applications. The automotive supplier MAHLE is leading the project, in which the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is involved with three institutes. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection is funding PoWer with around 5 million euros for three years, and the project is supported by TÜV Rheinland.

“Contact with hydrogen can significantly reduce the strength and deformability of metallic materials,” explains Dr. Stefan Guth from the IAM-WK of KIT. In the project, the IAM-WK scientists are therefore investigating how hydrogen affects typical materials of internal combustion engine components. To do this, they carry out mechanical material tests under the influence of hydrogen, especially under cyclically changing loads typical of engines. A central goal of the research group is to develop and establish methods for evaluating the influence of hydrogen on material strength. “Ultimately, we want to give our industrial partners recommendations for the safe and efficient use of the materials,” says Guth.