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Celebrating 19 Years

From Automotive Roots to Global Partnerships

It’s hard to believe it has been 19 years since Czero first opened its doors. What started with deep roots in automotive engineering has evolved into a global partnership in hardtech innovation, spanning energy, cleantech, automotive, and beyond.

While our logo has changed and technology has advanced, our core DNA remains the same: we believe real progress happens when innovators and engineering experts work together.

To our collaborators and clients: thank you. Your partnership and trust enable us to support projects of all scopes, from early-stage concepts to full system integration. With over 450 projects completed, our experience drives every solution we deliver. We act as an extension of your team, adapting to evolving project needs, delivering technically robust solutions, and empowering you to achieve critical milestones with confidence.

How Automated HIL Testing Validated an M1 Abrams Controller: Before Touching the Engine

The challenge: The U.S. Army needed to validate a new controller for the M1 Abrams tank’s gas turbine and powertrain. Testing directly on hardware was expensive and risky: failures could damage critical equipment, and iteration cycles were too slow.

Our engineering approach: We developed a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) system that accurately simulates the Abrams’ multi-spool gas turbine and vehicle dynamics in real time. By building a high-fidelity physics-based model in MATLAB/Simulink, we captured:

• Compressible flow dynamics with real gas properties
• Multi-spool turbine rotational dynamics
• Tracked vehicle dynamics across 56 total contact patches
• Transmission behavior including gear shifting

HIL allows you to test and debug virtually before connecting with real hardware. We apply this approach across energy, automotive, and aerospace sectors to de-risk expensive hardware.

Johns Hopkins & Czero Selected for ARPA-E JOULES 1K

We’re proud to announce our role as a subawardee on a groundbreaking project led by Johns Hopkins University, recently selected for the ARPA-E JOULES 1K program.

The program targets energy storage systems with energy densities exceeding 1,000 Wh/kg, a 4× increase over traditional batteries. Johns Hopkins is developing a Direct Liquid Fuel Cell (DLFC) using Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs), offering rapid refueling and high-density power for mobile and national security applications.

Czero’s role: While the university focuses on the fundamental chemistry and cell design, Czero provides the critical engineering muscle to turn this concept into a functional reality. We are leading the integration, test, and build of the system, ensuring the theoretical breakthroughs translate into a validated, working prototype.

Quixik Is ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Quality and precision are non-negotiable in hardtech. We’re thrilled to share that our in-house manufacturing center, Quixik, has officially received its ISO 9001:2015 certification.

This certification ensures Quixik meets the highest international standards for quality management. For our clients, it means even greater confidence in the reliability of the parts and prototypes we deliver, turning ambitious concepts into high-quality hardware, quickly and efficiently.

Is Your Next Project a Fit for Czero?

From Targeted Analysis to Turnkey Prototypes

We’re often asked, “Is this in your wheelhouse?” We specialize in helping teams who need engineering rigor but can’t afford to miss a deadline. We are the right partner if:

• Concept to prototype: You have a promising idea but need system design, integration support, and a clear path to a reliable demo.
• Subsystem integration: We make multiple vendors and technologies work together, designing the hardware and controls that tie everything into a coherent system.
• Design acceleration: Our senior engineers help stabilize scope, execute testing, and land the plane under tight timelines.
• Targeted workscopes: Need to answer a specific question to unblock a decision? We handle focused studies like FEA, CFD, and Techno-Economic Analyses (TEA).