Eden Energy, through its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Hythane Company, has announced it has received a U.S. patent for its cryogenic storage vessels for liquid hydrogen. Among the applications, the new technology will advance the practicality of hydrogen cars by optimizing energy storage, reducing or eliminating the need for bulky lithium ion batteries.

The main use for this technology, called Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES), will be in the automotive industry. Whether used for traditional hybrids, electric cars, or hydrogen combustion engines, SMES will capture and use energy from the vehicle braking system to reduce or eliminate the use of large, expensive batteries. By combining fuel storage and the battery into a single unit, the range and efficiency of alternative fuel vehicles will be increased, and fuel can be stored in a much smaller space.