Fiber composites specialist xperion Energy & Environment is partnering with 3M to develop a new portfolio of compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks, initially targeting heavy-duty vehicle applications.
These 3M-branded tanks, which will be engineered and designed via xperion technology and employ 3M's Matrix Resin nanosilica material, will be produced beginning later this year at a new facility that xperion is building in Heath, Ohio.
‘As a Tier-1 supplier to many European automotive OEMs, we have completed rigorous qualification procedures and, along with 3M, have the understanding and experience needed to bring continuous innovation to the CNG category over time,’ says Sean Ellen, general manager of xperion.
xperion began producing its X-STORE line of CNG tanks in 2008, and 3M debuted its own tank technology last February. 3M recently formed an agreement with Rush Enterprises – a major stakeholder in the medium- and heavy-duty truck arena – to work on end-to-end CNG tank and system solutions. The new agreement with xperion builds on that partnership.
3M and xperion note that they do intend to also ‘continue to address the light-duty CNG segment,’ where they will collaborate on products using xperion's X-STORE cylinders.
