10 Companies Deeply Invested In
Hydrogen Combustion Engines
Hydrogen combustion engine technology is
gradually emerging as a viable solution in the pursuit of sustainable
transportation solutions. With governments doing everything to reduce
carbon footprints, hydrogen's potential as a clean and efficient
energy source has come to the fore, with companies like Toyota and
Honda investing in its development.
Most investments in hydrogen as a sustainable
resource have been in the fuel-cell segment, but hydrogen combustion
engines are also expected to have the ability to produce zero
greenhouse gas emissions. When hydrogen is combusted in an engine, the
byproduct is water vapor, sometimes mixed with nitrous oxide, and with
continued innovation and investment in the technology, it could become
a highly attractive alternative to traditional internal combustion
engines, as well as battery-electric and fuel-cell technology.
Some companies like Toyota and Volvo are
investing in ongoing research and development efforts to maximize the
efficiency of hydrogen combustion engines, and companies like Kawasaki
have come up with innovations such as supercharging and direct fuel
injection techniques aimed at optimizing performance and range.
Although more advancements in hydrogen storage technology need to be
made, like high-pressure tanks and solid-state storage solutions,
companies are working towards addressing the challenge of hydrogen's
lower energy density compared to traditional fuels.
1. Toyota
Toyota has repeatedly shown commitment to
providing environmentally friendly mobility solutions.
This is exemplified even further in the company's pursuit of hydrogen
combustion engine technology. The company recognizes the needs of
customers and markets vary globally, meaning one solution for zero
emissions isn't feasible. Hence, the development of the
hydrogen-powered car GR Corolla H2.
Toyota's H2 hydrogen combustion
vehicles:
- The GR Corolla H2
- The GR Yaris H2
Toyota participated in the Super Taikyu
endurance races in Japan to accelerate the vehicle's development
In the process,
it created a 24 percent increase in combustion power, a 33 percent
surge in torque, a 30 percent extended range, and a reduction in
refueling time from five minutes to just 90 seconds. The 1.6-liter
three-cylinder turbo engine featured a high-pressure hydrogen direct
injection technology.
The GR Corolla H2 embodies Toyota's dedication
to pushing the boundaries of eco-friendly automotive engineering. With
real-world evaluation and digital development ongoing, winter testing
is expected in northern Japan.
2. Honda
According to recent developments,
Honda's stance on hydrogen combustion engines has seen a
significant shift. Honda
is now actively engaged in a collaborative project dubbed HySE
(Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology). This joint effort is
exploring the potential of hydrogen internal combustion for small
vehicles.
Members of the HySE collaboration:
- Toyota
- Honda
- Kawasaki
- Suzuki
- Yamaha
Honda was initially skeptical about the
feasibility of a hydrogen combustion engine for its cars
This initiative has led to the construction of
an all-terrain vehicle known as the "HySE-X1". The project
encountered challenges in integrating the hydrogen engine, tank, and
other components into a T3-standard chassis, which highlighted the
technical complexities involved in the endeavor. Conquering these
challenges, the "HySE-X1" was registered into the "Mission 1000"
Challenge of the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
The car features a 1.6-liter four-cylinder
supercharged hydrogen-powered engine, an engine that HySE currently
employs in its research activities.
3. Bosch
Bosch has been a trailblazer in hybrid powertrain technology with
over 40 years of expertise and is set to make another leap, this time,
in the realm of hydrogen combustion engines. Leveraging its extensive
experience,
Bosch intends to introduce a hydrogen combustion engine in 2024.
Revealed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans'
100th anniversary
Bosch has been developing a comprehensive
system that comprises a hydrogen port-fuel injector, hydrogen
injection rail, electronic pressure regulator, and electronic engine
control unit, for its hydrogen-based propulsion solutions. To
facilitate the technology, Bosch joined forces with Ligier Automotive
in 2023 to build a prototype hydrogen-based vehicle based on the
Ligier JS2 R race car.
This hydrogen-based prototype featured a
3.0-liter biturbo hydrogen engine that produced an output of 563
horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, achieved through a reworked
injection system.
4. Cummins
At the 2022 ACT Expo in Long Beach,
California,
Cummins showcased its 15-liter hydrogen engine. This engine is
Cummins' innovative answer to the sustainable mobility movement and is
built on Cummins' groundbreaking fuel-agnostic platform. This platform
ensures that below the head gasket, engines for different fuel types
share largely similar components to provide versatility and
adaptability. The company has plans to put this engine into full
production by 2027.
It has since achieved impressive early
results, the 15-liter hydrogen engine included, surpassing power and
torque targets, having achieved over 810 pound-feet of torque and 290
horsepower from the medium-duty engine. In addition to the 15-liter
hydrogen engine, Cummins will build a 6.7-liter displacement engine.
This underlines the company's dedication to offering a diverse range
of hydrogen-powered solutions.
5. NamX
NamX is a pioneering car start-up that
has embraced hydrogen internal combustion engine technology for its
debut vehicle, departing from its earlier focus on fuel-cell electric
models. The company has decided to utilize a hydrogen V-8 internal
combustion engine for its first vehicle, although it initially
marketed the "Hydrogen Utility Vehicle'' as a fuel-cell electric
model. This is an innovative approach within the burgeoning
hydrogen-powered automobile sector.
A
V-8 engine will do the duty
The company also intends to tap into the
decades of investment and continuous enhancement of combustion
engines, its proven and time-tested nature, an option to benefit from.
NamX will make use of a 6.2-liter four-stroke V-8 engine for the HUV,
which will be supplied by Solution F, a subsidiary of the GCK group.
The combustion process will generate only water vapor and a small
quantity of nitrogen oxides.
6. Daimler
Daimler is testing a Unimog prototype equipped
with a hydrogen combustion engine. Rigorous measurements and tests are
being carried out at low temperatures and demanding topography, which
reflect a concerted effort to evaluate the potential of hydrogen
combustion as an adequate supplement to battery-electric and
fuel-cell-based drives.
The prototype is designed with high-pressure
tanks that can contain 14 kilograms of hydrogen. This hydrogen engine
discharges water as steam via the exhaust system. The engine produces
a power output of 290 horsepower and operates quieter than its diesel
equivalent. This project commenced in July 2021. It is funded by 18
partners from Germany's industry and science sectors, together with
the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
7. MAN
MAN provides commercial vehicles and engines.
It unveiled the new MAN H4576 hydrogen combustion engine at
Agritechnica in 2023. Leveraging its extensive experience in the
field, MAN Engines has developed the new hydrogen-powered engine based
on the proven D3876 diesel engine, with 80 percent of the parts being
identical.
The MAN H4576 engine is a larger 16.8-liter mill compared to its
diesel counterpart’s 15.3-liter engine and delivers 500 horsepower.
The design of the PistenBully 800, the truck
that currently utilizes the MAN D3876 engine, is very forward-looking,
as it was cleverly designed to facilitate seamless integration with
the MAN H4576, with strategically allocated space for hydrogen tanks.
MAN is also known for using hydrogen in
conjunction with other fuels such as HVO, as demonstrated by the
hydrogen dual-fuel 12-cylinder V MAN D2862 engine that has been
powering the wind farm supply ship Hydrocat 48 since mid-2022.
8. Volvo
Volvo Group is currently working on an
ambitious target to exclusively produce vehicles and services,
comprising heavy-duty, medium-duty, commercial, and all kinds of
vehicles by 2040, which has led to trying out all forms of
sustainability. For trucks and commercial vehicles,
Volvo has made a substantial investment in hydrogen technology,
focusing on both fuel-cell applications and also utilizing hydrogen as
a renewable fuel for combustion engines.
To venture further into the realm of hydrogen
combustion engine technology with both feet better planted on the
ground, the Volvo Group has initiated a VICE scholarship project,
selecting two PhD students to conduct vital hydrogen-based research at
the Chalmers University of Technology and Lund University in Sweden.
These students will be under employment at Volvo Group, starting from
the first quarter of 2024.
9. Suzuki
Suzuki has been working on hydrogen combustion
engine technology, since displaying the 2007 Crosscage concept bike.
The company has also released a few hydrogen-powered Burgman scooters
since 2010, which have used hydrogen fuel cells to power electric
motors. IIn 2023, the company released a
hydrogen-powered modified version of the Burgman 400 scooter that
uses a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine compared to the
previous hydrogen scooters’ fuel cells.
Suzuki's involvement in the
HySE collaboration with other players like Toyota, Honda, Yamaha, and
Kawasaki, is part of what helped in advancing the hydrogen-fueled
propulsion for the new Burgman. The prototype's elongated wheelbase is
due to a design aimed at accommodating the hydrogen tank. The company
has a focus on studying the functionality, performance, and
reliability of hydrogen-powered engines. Suzuki's efforts towards
hydrogen combustion engines will pioneer the movement in the
motorcycle industry.
10.
Kawasaki
Kawasaki has been working on the development
and manufacture of prototype hydrogen engines, refueling systems,
supply networks, and hydrogen tanks. Under the HySE partnership,
Kawasaki unveiled a supercharged four-cylinder hydrogen engine.
The supercharged hydrogen engine ingeniously utilizes the
supercharger to ensure efficient and optimized combustion.
It was tested at the 2024 Dakar Rally
A noteworthy challenge encountered, however,
is the lower energy density of hydrogen compared to gasoline,
particularly in its liquid form, necessitating significantly larger
tanks for hydrogen-powered vehicles to achieve comparable ranges.
Kawasaki's prototype vehicle, which was tested at the
2024 Dakar Rally alongside the HySE-X1, has huge hydrogen tanks
in the places where saddlebags would've been, which means, until a
solution is found, luggage capacity is compromised.
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