Sumitomo Riko ‘mass-producing’ components for hydrogen-powered trucks

Nagoya City, Japan – Sumitomo Riko Co. has stepped up its activities around the development and production of components for hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Under a partnership with automotive alliance Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies*, the company said it is now producing anti-vibration rubber, hoses, and other products for ‘small fuel cell trucks’

The vehicles are mainly to be used in supporting local supply-chains, such as for logistics from regional distribution centres to mass retailers and convenience stores.

According to Sumitomo Riko, it has successfully developed an antivibration rubber mount for securing the hydrogen tank to the body part of the trucks.

The mount is designed to “stably" support the hydrogen tank and contribute to reducing vibration from the tank valve, the company said.

Sumitomo Riko added that its hydrogen hoses will then supply hydrogen from the tank to the fuel cell stack.

The hoses, continued the Japanese supplier, meet the very demanding sealing and containment requirements for the extremely small hydrogen molecule.

The manufacturer is also supplying rubber seal gaskets designed to prevent leakage of hydrogen, oxygen, and water from fuel-cell stack components.

The gaskets are designed to ensure effective sealing of each component across a wide temperature range, from sub-zero to over 100°C.

* Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Co., Ltd. (CJPT) is a collaboration between Japanese automotive companies, including Toyota Motor Corp., Isuzu Motors, and Hino Motors. CJPT focuses on the development and promotion of commercial vehicle technologies, particularly in areas such as fuel efficiency, connected services, and zero-emission vehicles, including fuel cell technology.