What Hydi does

HYDI is a South Australian clean-technology company founded in 2014 that develops and sells hydrogen-on-demand retrofit systems for existing large diesel engines. Its core technology uses proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis to generate hydrogen gas from distilled or demineralised water at the point of use, then injects that hydrogen directly into the diesel engine's air intake to improve combustion efficiency. The system is designed to operate without high-pressure hydrogen storage, without chemicals or caustic substances, and with automatic shutdown when the engine stops — features the company markets as core safety differentiators. The product portfolio spans the HY4000, HY1500, and WR1000 unit models targeted at different engine capacities and use cases.

HYDI's go-to-market is enterprise field sales to large diesel fleet operators across mining and earthmoving, heavy transport and logistics, public transport, marine, drilling, power generation, and agriculture in Australia, with additional trials and deployments in New Zealand, the Netherlands, the UK, Scotland, and Egypt. Installation and servicing are performed by HYDI-trained personnel. The unit carries a starting price of approximately A$18,000 plus ~A$2,000 for installation, with an initial service at three months, six-monthly ongoing service intervals, cell replacement at 8,000–10,000 operating hours, and a 12-month warranty. Recurring service and cell replacement generate a modest aftermarket revenue stream on top of the one-time hardware sale.

Independent field trials — including those by the University of South Australia, Scania Australia, Holcim Australia, and the METRONET Byford Rail Extension Project — report up to 80% Diesel Particulate Matter reduction, 5–19% fuel savings, 17% CO2 reduction, 22% NOx reduction, and 25% carbon monoxide reduction depending on application. Named enterprise customers include DP World, Mineral Resources (MinRes), Holcim Australia, Scania Australia, Solo Resource Recovery, Torrens Transit, Transdev, Titeline Drilling, and Hi-Trans Express. The company is ISO-certified for quality, environmental, and safety management, and VSB6 approved for fitment to heavy transport including hazardous goods vehicles.

Name

Hydi

Legal name

HYDI

Website

https://hydi.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HYDI is an Australian clean-technology company that sells hydrogen-on-demand retrofit units for large existing diesel engines, selling directly to enterprise fleet operators in mining, heavy transport, public transport, and industrial sectors across Australia and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diesel Engine Emissions and Efficiency Technology

NAICS

Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336), Other Engine Equipment Manufacturing (333618)

SIC

Engines & Turbines (3510), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydrogen Energy Storage & Power-to-X Equipment (electrolyzers, storage, fuel cell systems) (IMAGAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility) (IMAEACAB), Diesel Engine Power Plants (Medium/High-Speed Reciprocating) (EUACACAB)

Keywords

• Hydrogen diesel retrofit
• Diesel emissions reduction
• Fleet fuel efficiency
• Hydrogen on demand
• Diesel engine hydrogen injection

Headquarters

HQ city

Thebarton

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. HYDI Hydrogen Direct Injection Unit Sales: Sale of HYDI hydrogen on-demand retrofit units to fleet operators, mining companies, transport companies, and industrial operators. Units are bolt-on retrofits for existing diesel engines. Starting cost approximately $18,000 per unit. Installation by HYDI-trained personnel (4-8 hours per unit). Units can be transferred between vehicles.
2. Installation Services: Professional installation of HYDI units performed by HYDI-trained personnel. Installation takes approximately 4-8 hours depending on application. Installation cost approximately $2,000 on top of unit price.
3. Maintenance and Servicing: Ongoing maintenance services with initial service at 3 months, then every 6 months thereafter. Service includes cell replacement after 8,000-10,000 hours of operation. 12-month warranty on all units.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HYDI designs, manufactures, and sells Hydrogen Direct Injection (HDI) retrofit units that bolt onto existing diesel engines to produce hydrogen on-demand from distilled water via PEM electrolysis, injecting it into the air intake to enhance combustion efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and cut emissions. The company also provides installation by HYDI-trained personnel and ongoing scheduled maintenance. Units are sold to enterprise fleet operators across mining, heavy transport, public transport, marine, drilling, power generation, and agriculture sectors.

Product overview

HYDI offers a portfolio of Hydrogen Direct Injection (HDI) retrofit systems designed to enhance existing diesel engines without replacement. The core product line includes the HYDI Hydrogen Direct Injection Unit and multiple models (WR1000 for prime movers, HY1500 for drilling applications, HY4000 referenced in calculators) that share the same fundamental technology: producing hydrogen on-demand from distilled water via electrolysis and injecting it into the engine's air intake. The units are engineered for specific engine capacities and applications across mining, transport, marine, agriculture, and power generation sectors. All models feature Bluetooth-enabled Android monitoring, operate without hydrogen storage, and carry a 12-month warranty with approximately 20-year service life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HYDI Hydrogen Direct Injection (HDI) Unit Bolt-on hydrogen on-demand retrofit system that attaches to existing diesel engines (100hp to 3000hp+), producing hydrogen from distilled water via PEM electrolysis and injecting it into the engine air intake to improve combustion efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and cut emissions. Compatible with major OEM brands including CAT, Cummins, Komatsu, MTU, Scania, Volvo, Kenworth, Mercedes, Western Star, Iveco, Hyster, and Terberg. Starting cost approximately $18,000 per unit. Includes Bluetooth Android monitoring application. 12-month warranty.
• HY4000 Unit

Quantifiable outcome

• Diesel Particulate Matter reduction up to 80% (independent testing)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• DP WorldnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecent installations of HYDI units on DP World's Terberg Terminal Tractors and Hyster Top Loader forklifts at Perth's terminal in Fremantle, contributing to carbon emission reduction and diesel fuel savings at the port facility.
• Titeline DrillingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTiteline Drilling fitted a HYDI 1500 to a CAT 3406 mounted on a drilling rig operating in Gawler Craton region in South Australia, achieving an 18% fuel reduction. This case study is prominently featured as proof of field-proven results.
• Holcim AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge-scale field trial with Scania verified independent results: 80% DPM reduction, 15% fuel savings, 17% CO2 reduction, 22% NOx reduction, 25% CO reduction. Trial conducted across Holcim Australia's heavy fleet.
• Scania AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScania verified 15% fuel reduction using onboard Scania management systems. Scania has continued to support R&M (Repair and Maintenance) contracts on HYDI-equipped fleets. Joint trial with Holcim Australia produced verified independent results.
• Solo Resource RecoverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement to roll out HYDI Hydrogen Direct Injection Units across Solo Resource Recovery's waste collection trucks across the country, including vehicles servicing the City of West Torrens, Perth, and NSW. Also trialling on prime mover trucks.
• Torrens TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdelaide Metro Bus trial with HYDI fitted to bus 1560. Achieved average fuel consumption reduction from 41.7L/100km to 35.2L/100km (12.5% improvement). Driver feedback rated performance as setting 'a new standard in Adelaide Metro Bus performance.'
• Transdev (Mana Newlands Coach Services)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner6-week trial on Wellington, New Zealand bus routes (52, 56, 57, 58, 60, 60e) showed 10% fuel savings and 80% emissions reduction. Transdev is the operator of Mana Newlands Coach Services and Howick and Eastern Buses in Auckland.
• University of South AustraliacoreTechnology or IntegrationIndependent testing and validation of HYDI technology. UniSA conducted emission testing on generators and drilling equipment. Results: 41% average PM emission reduction across load, 56% PM reduction at peak load. No evidence of impact to diesel engine performance parameters or reliability.
• SA H2H Hydrogen ClusternotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerHYDI is a founding member of the South Australian Hydrogen Cluster. The cluster aims to position South Australia as a supplier of choice for green hydrogen, supporting the State Government's Hydrogen Action Plan.
• METRONET (Byford Rail Extension Project)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerHYDI unit installed on a CAT 962 loader at the METRONET Byford Rail Extension Project in Western Australia. Achieved 19% fuel efficiency improvement (8.18 L/hr to 6.56 L/hr). Project aims for minimum 10% improvement across various equipment.
• Prior Power SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrior Power Solutions partnered with HYDI to reduce environmental impact with carbon-reduction technology for aquaculture operations.
• Mineral Resources (MinRes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-first driverless technology project to convert 120 road trains for the Pilbara region in Western Australia, with HYDI technology integrated into autonomous road train configurations. Starting January with 10 road trains converted per month.
• Hexagon (Hexagon Energy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHexagon designed and developed world-first driverless road train technology with MinRes for the Pilbara. HYDI's hydrogen technology is part of the autonomous road train configuration.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Daimler Truck: Global commercial vehicle OEM with hydrogen fuel cell trucks (Mercedes-Benz GenH2) and battery-electric product lines for long-haul and refuse collection. Competes with HYDI at the fleet buyer level by offering new zero-emission trucks as an alternative to diesel retrofit.
• Cummins Accelera: Cummins' zero-emission business unit offering hydrogen fuel cell powertrains, electrolyzers, and battery-electric solutions for heavy-duty and industrial applications. Broader incumbent competing across the hydrogen value chain in markets where HYDI sells its retrofit units.
• Plug Power: Large US hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer company serving material handling, e-mobility, and stationary power. Comparable as both an electrolyzer maker and a forklift/fleet hydrogen solutions provider overlapping with HYDI's port logistics and mining end markets.
• Chart Industries: US-based cryogenic and hydrogen process equipment manufacturer producing electrolyzers, storage tanks, and refueling infrastructure. Comparable as a broader hydrogen equipment incumbent that could supply or compete with PEM-based hydrogen systems serving similar end users.

Direct peers

• Ballard Power Systems: Canadian fuel cell manufacturer supplying PEM fuel cell systems for heavy-duty trucks, buses, and trains. Competes with HYDI for the same heavy-fleet decarbonisation budgets but pursues full hydrogen powertrain replacement rather than diesel enhancement.
• Hyzon Motors: US-based hydrogen fuel cell truck and bus developer targeting Class 8 trucking, refuse collection, and coach applications. Directly comparable end-market overlap with HYDI's heavy transport and waste management segments, competing for the same fleet decarbonisation capital.
• ITM Power: UK-based PEM electrolyzer manufacturer producing hydrogen generation systems for industrial, mobility, and power applications. Comparable to HYDI as both commercialise PEM electrolysis hardware; ITM focuses on multi-MW refueling and industrial installations while HYDI miniaturises the same technology for vehicle retrofit.
• Nel ASA: Norwegian PEM electrolyzer manufacturer producing hydrogen generation equipment at industrial scale. Directly comparable to HYDI because both produce on-site hydrogen via PEM electrolysis, though Nel targets large-scale green hydrogen production plants while HYDI packages the same core technology into small diesel-engine retrofit units.

Emerging players

• Loop Energy: Canadian PEM fuel cell range extender manufacturer for medium and heavy-duty trucks, buses, and stationary power. Comparable as an emerging hydrogen propulsion supplier addressing the same heavy-fleet customers HYDI targets, but via fuel cell range extension rather than hydrogen-on-diesel injection.
• First Hydrogen: Canadian-UK hydrogen vehicle and refueling startup producing FCEV light commercial vans for fleet operators. Targets overlapping fleet decarbonisation buyers with HYDI's logistics and van customers, offering full vehicle replacement rather than diesel engine enhancement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hydi