The first off-the-shelf hydrogen powertrain has been developed by UK engineering agency Viritech and is focused at producers which can be seeking to “rapidly deploy” FCEVs.

The powertrain, named VPT60N, has been created to exhibit the benefits of FCEV know-how over typical electrical powertrains.

Primarily to be used in prototype and improvement automobiles, the system is designed to be as versatile as potential and may be utilized in highway automobiles, mild business automobiles, diggers and tractors, in keeping with its developer.

Although the system will not be highway authorized off the shelf, Viritech says it may work with producers to homologate the powertrain.

Viritech CEO Timothy Lyons mentioned: “The launch of the first powertrain in our vehicle powertrain family realises years of hard work at Viritech. We are excited to make available to OEMs and tier-one manufacturers a viable, available and easily integrated fuel cell powertrain which enables vehicle manufacturers to accelerate the delivery of fuel cell vehicles on and off highway.” 

The powertrain makes use of a 59bhp gas cell working with a 16kWh 400V battery. Both are mixed with an electrical motor producing 268bhp and 302lb ft.

It is probably going to make use of a modular model of the agency’s Graph-Pro know-how, which implies it has built-in mounting factors to allow it to be fitted to the chassis of an present car with out the necessity for added framework, which reduces weight.

It additionally makes the strain vessel – the place the hydrogen is saved – particularly sturdy to the purpose the place it may face up to important forces, resembling in a crash. The hydrogen is stored in two containers which can be pressurised to 350 bar.

Both the storage unit and battery could be reconfigured to go well with a selected car. A standardised unit pre-configured by Viritech can be out there and can be used for automobiles that have to be developed and launched rapidly.

The complete vary it gives is unspecified, however it’s possible to attract learnings from the agency’s Apricale hypercar, which focused a spread of round 500 miles.

The powertrain was developed on the MIRA proving floor in Warwickshire, the place the UK agency has been ready to make use of the expansive testing models on web site, thereby saving on the appreciable value of constructing and homologating its personal amenities.