The annual ACE Mobility Student Award recognizes students from HAN and Fontys who make groundbreaking contributions to the mobility sector. The award ceremony took place at Fontys Nexus in Eindhoven, where Tim impressed the jury with a combination of in-depth technical expertise and remarkable social engagement.
Smart solutions for hydrogen infrastructure
During his internship at Daimler Truck AG in Stuttgart, Tim explored the world of liquid hydrogen refueling stations. He tackled a key issue: the boil-off effect, in which valuable hydrogen evaporates during storage and fueling processes.
“My contribution consisted of developing a solution to reduce this loss,” Tim explains. “Additionally, I used artificial intelligence to optimize the design process and integrated AI into the team's daily work environment.”
The project was a leap into the unknown, Tim says: “I truly stepped into a completely new world. Liquid hydrogen was mostly new to me, and the working language at the office, German, took some getting used to. But it was precisely the rapid development of the hydrogen sector that made the project incredibly educational and motivating.” His work directly contributes to a more efficient and cost-effective hydrogen infrastructure, which is essential for the transition to sustainable mobility.
Driving force behind the energy transition
In addition to his technical achievements, Tim stood out for his social initiative. He is the founder of Jong-NWBA, the youth division of the Dutch Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. With this platform, he builds bridges between students, young professionals, and the rapidly growing hydrogen sector.
“Many young people are interested in the energy transition but don’t know how to really connect with the hydrogen world,” says Tim. “With Jong-NWBA, we wanted to close that gap. We're building a community where young people inspire each other and gain practical insights through events and networking. The energy transition is something we have to achieve together, and the younger generation plays a key role in that.”
HAN talent essential for the future of mobility
The jury, which included experts such as Margriet van Schijndel (TU/e), Rob van Veldhuizen (Stantec), and Geert Brummelhuis (BOVAG), praised Tim’s combination of depth, vision, and societal impact.
Saskia Lavoo, general manager of ACE Mobility, emphasized the importance of such talent: “This award demonstrates that students don’t only make a difference at the end of their studies, but that they’re valuable to the mobility sector right from the start. Tim shows how technical innovation and social engagement come together in one powerful story. Talents like this are indispensable for the future of mobility.”
HAN University of Applied Sciences is proud of the accomplishments of its students, particularly the HAN Academy of Engineering and Automotive. In addition to Tim Vianen, several other HAN students were nominated for the award:
- Emma Vanstraelen, for her innovative control strategy for active dampers at JRZ Suspensions.
- David Onvlee, who designed a communication system for autonomous vehicles and pedestrians.
- Santiago Sanchez, who presented his self-built hypercar prototype.
These nominations highlight HAN’s leading role in educating the talent that is already contributing to the green mobility of tomorrow and the near future.
Source and photography: ACE Mobility
