Lightweight cryogenic-compatible pressure vessels for vehicular fuel storage

A lightweight, cryogenic-compatible pressure vessel for flexibly storing cryogenic liquid fuels or compressed gas fuels at cryogenic or ambient temperatures in vehicles, the pressure vessel comprising:

• an inner pressure container enclosing a fuel storage volume;
• an outer container surrounding the inner pressure container and forming an evacuated space therebetween;
• a thermal insulator surrounding the inner pressure container in the evacuated space to inhibit heat transfer to the fuel storate volume;
• and
• means for substantially inhibiting vacuum loss in the evacuated space due to fuel permeation through the inner pressure container, wherein the means for substantially inhibiting vacuum loss includes a fluid-impermeable layer located on a container liner lining an inner surface of the inner pressure container, whereby cryogenic insulation may be maintained when storing cryogenic liquid fuels or compressed gas fuels at cryogenic temperatures.