EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies (EKPO) will present its high-performance fuel cell stacks and components at Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg from October 20 to 22, 2026. At Booth 7H46 in Hall 7, the company will also showcase HyFleet, the world's first road-legal hydrogen-powered side-by-side vehicle, which integrates EKPO's NM12 fuel cell stack. The announcement signals a significant step in applying hydrogen fuel cell technology to energy-intensive special-purpose vehicles, moving beyond passenger cars and buses into demanding off-road and specialty applications.
The HyFleet project, developed by BRP-Rotax with industry and research partners, combines a range of up to 400 kilometers with a refueling time of approximately five minutes. At its core is EKPO's NM12 stack, which delivers high power density and forms the basis for a 90 kW fuel cell system achieving up to 60% efficiency. The system responds rapidly to load changes and has been tested extensively on- and off-road under real-world conditions. A passive hydrogen recirculation system developed with HyCentA adds robustness and efficiency, using an innovative two-step needle ejector to reduce mechanical complexity. The system also features cold-start and freeze-start capability at temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for winter and alpine environments.
Dr. Stefan Dwenger, Managing Director of EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies GmbH, said, "HyFleet shows how we are applying our many years of fuel cell expertise to new mobility applications. Hydrogen is particularly well suited to demanding on- and off-road applications that require long operating hours and high availability. Our NM12 fuel cell stack, backed by our expertise in development and industrialization, helps our partners put this potential to work." The HyFleet initiative is testing this potential under real-world conditions, generating insights for hydrogen-powered specialty vehicles in agriculture, forestry, tourism, municipal services, and industry. The project takes an integrated approach, considering every stage from local green hydrogen production to the powertrain, vehicle, and scalable refueling infrastructure.
Stefan Arndt, General Manager BRP-Rotax, VP R&D Powertrain, added, "HyFleet has demonstrated that a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain can also work successfully in a compact special-purpose vehicle designed for off-road use. In EKPO, we have a partner that brought extensive experience in developing and industrializing fuel cell stacks to the project, along with technology tailored to our needs. EKPO thus played a key role in turning our vehicle concept into reality." The HyFleet project received funding through the Zero Emission Mobility program, administered by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).
EKPO's presence at the expo extends beyond HyFleet. With more than 20 years of experience in fuel cell technology, the company combines technical expertise with automotive industrialization capabilities. It will display fuel cell stacks and components for mobile and stationary applications with power outputs from 16 kW to more than 400 kW, engineered for high power density, efficiency, and dependable operation. EKPO also develops customized stack solutions and extends its portfolio to green hydrogen production with metal bipolar plates for PEM electrolyzers, adapting its know-how in precision forming, coating, and sealing technologies. This broad offering underscores EKPO's role in advancing CO2-neutral mobility across road, rail, water, and off-road applications.
The HyFleet demonstration matters because it proves that hydrogen fuel cells can meet the rigorous demands of specialty vehicles, which often operate for long hours in remote or harsh conditions where battery-electric solutions may be impractical. By validating a compact, cold-capable, and fast-refueling system, EKPO and its partners are opening doors to decarbonizing sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and municipal services. As the world seeks to reduce emissions from hard-to-abate transport segments, the success of HyFleet provides a replicable model for integrating hydrogen technology into energy-intensive fleets. For further details, see the original release on www.newmediawire.com.
