Hydrogen combustion engine technology is step by step rising as a viable answer within the pursuit of sustainable transportation options. With governments doing every part to scale back carbon footprints, hydrogen’s potential as a clear and environment friendly vitality supply has come to the fore, with corporations like Toyota and Honda investing in its improvement.

Most investments in hydrogen as a sustainable useful resource have been in the fuel-cell segment, however hydrogen combustion engines are additionally anticipated to have the power to provide zero greenhouse gasoline emissions. When hydrogen is combusted in an engine, the byproduct is water vapor, generally blended with nitrous oxide, and with continued innovation and funding within the know-how, it may develop into a extremely enticing various to conventional inner combustion engines, in addition to battery-electric and fuel-cell know-how.

Some corporations like Toyota and Volvo are investing in ongoing analysis and improvement efforts to maximise the effectivity of hydrogen combustion engines, and companies like Kawasaki have come up with innovations corresponding to supercharging and direct gasoline injection methods geared toward optimizing efficiency and vary. Although extra developments in hydrogen storage know-how have to be made, like high-pressure tanks and solid-state storage options, corporations are working in the direction of addressing the problem of hydrogen’s decrease vitality density in comparison with conventional fuels.

In order to provide the most recent and correct info potential, the info used to compile this text was sourced from varied producer web sites.

1 Toyota

Toyota has repeatedly proven dedication to offering environmentally pleasant mobility options. This is exemplified even further in the company’s pursuit of hydrogen combustion engine technology. The firm acknowledges the wants of shoppers and markets range globally, which means one answer for zero emissions is not possible. Hence, the event of the hydrogen-powered automobile GR Corolla H2.

Toyota’s H2 hydrogen combustion autos:

• The GR Corolla H2
• The GR Yaris H2

Toyota participated within the Super Taikyu endurance races in Japan to speed up the automobile’s improvement.

In the method, it created a 24 percent increase in combustion power, a 33 % surge in torque, a 30 % prolonged vary, and a discount in refueling time from 5 minutes to only 90 seconds. The 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbo engine featured a high-pressure hydrogen direct injection know-how.

The GR Corolla H2 embodies Toyota’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of eco-friendly automotive engineering. With real-world analysis and digital improvement ongoing, winter testing is predicted in northern Japan.

2 Honda

According to latest developments, Honda’s stance on hydrogen combustion engines has seen a big shift. Honda is now actively engaged in a collaborative venture dubbed HySE (Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine know-how). This joint effort is exploring the potential of hydrogen inner combustion for small autos.

Members of the HySE collaboration:

• Toyota
• Honda
• Kawasaki
• Suzuki
• Yamaha

Honda was initially skeptical concerning the feasibility of a hydrogen combustion engine for its vehicles

This initiative has led to the development of an all-terrain vehicle known as the “HySE-X1”. The venture encountered challenges in integrating the hydrogen engine, tank, and different parts right into a T3-standard chassis, which highlighted the technical complexities concerned within the endeavor. Conquering these challenges, the “HySE-X1” was registered into the “Mission 1000” Challenge of the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.

The automobile encompasses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder supercharged hydrogen-powered engine, an engine that HySE at present employs in its analysis actions.

3 Bosch

Bosch has been a trailblazer in hybrid powertrain know-how with over 40 years of experience and is about to make one other leap, this time, within the realm of hydrogen combustion engines. Leveraging its in depth expertise, Bosch intends to introduce a hydrogen combustion engine in 2024.

Revealed on the 24 Hours of Le Mans’ a hundredth anniversary

Bosch has been growing a complete system that contains a hydrogen port-fuel injector, hydrogen injection rail, digital stress regulator, and digital engine management unit, for its hydrogen-based propulsion options. To facilitate the know-how, Bosch joined forces with Ligier Automotive in 2023 to construct a prototype hydrogen-based automobile primarily based on the Ligier JS2 R race automobile.

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 by 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’ revolutionary reply to the sustainable mobility motion and is constructed on Cummins’ groundbreaking fuel-agnostic platform. This platform ensures that under the pinnacle gasket, engines for various gasoline sorts share largely comparable parts to supply versatility and flexibility. The firm has plans to place this engine into full manufacturing by 2027.

It has since achieved spectacular early outcomes, the 15-liter hydrogen engine included, surpassing energy 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 construct a 6.7-liter displacement engine. This underlines the corporate’s dedication to providing a various vary of hydrogen-powered options.

5 NamX

NamX is a pioneering hydrogen car start-up that has embraced hydrogen inner combustion engine know-how for its debut automobile, departing from its earlier give attention to fuel-cell electrical fashions. The firm has determined to make the most of a hydrogen V-8 inner combustion engine for its first automobile, though it initially marketed the “Hydrogen Utility Vehicle” as a fuel-cell electrical mannequin. This is an revolutionary method throughout the burgeoning hydrogen-powered car sector.

A V-8 engine will do the obligation

The firm additionally intends to faucet into the a long time of funding and steady enhancement of combustion engines, its confirmed and time-tested nature, an possibility to learn from. NamX will make use of a 6.2-liter four-stroke V-8 engine for the HUV, which might be provided by Solution F, a subsidiary of the GCK group. The combustion course of will generate solely water vapor and a small amount of nitrogen oxides.

6 Daimler

Daimler is testing a Unimog prototype equipped with a hydrogen combustion engine. Rigorous measurements and assessments are being carried out at low temperatures and demanding topography, which mirror a concerted effort to judge the potential of hydrogen combustion as an satisfactory complement to battery-electric and fuel-cell-based drives.

The prototype is designed with high-pressure tanks that may comprise 14 kilograms of hydrogen. This hydrogen engine discharges water as steam by way of the exhaust system. The engine produces an influence output of 290 horsepower and operates quieter than its diesel equal. This venture commenced in July 2021. It is funded by 18 companions from Germany’s trade and science sectors, along with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.

7 MAN

MAN supplies business autos and engines. It unveiled the brand new MAN H4576 hydrogen combustion engine at Agritechnica in 2023. Leveraging its in depth expertise within the discipline, MAN Engines has developed the brand new hydrogen-powered engine primarily based on the confirmed D3876 diesel engine, with 80 % of the elements being similar. The MAN H4576 engine is a larger 16.8-liter mill in comparison with its diesel counterpart’s 15.3-liter engine and delivers 500 horsepower.

The design of the PistenBully 800, the truck that at present makes use of the MAN D3876 engine, could be very forward-looking, because it was cleverly designed to facilitate seamless integration with the MAN H4576, with strategically allotted house for hydrogen tanks.

MAN can also be recognized for utilizing hydrogen along side different fuels corresponding to HVO, as demonstrated by the hydrogen dual-fuel 12-cylinder V MAN D2862 engine that has been powering the wind farm provide ship Hydrocat 48 since mid-2022.

8 Volvo

Volvo Group is at present engaged on an bold goal to solely produce autos and companies, comprising heavy-duty, medium-duty, business, and every kind of autos by 2040, which has led to attempting out all types of sustainability. For vehicles and business autos, Volvo has made a substantial investment in hydrogen technology, specializing in each fuel-cell purposes and in addition using hydrogen as a renewable gasoline for combustion engines.

To enterprise additional into the realm of hydrogen combustion engine know-how with each ft higher planted on the bottom, the Volvo Group has initiated a VICE scholarship venture, deciding on two PhD college students to conduct important hydrogen-based analysis on the Chalmers University of Technology and Lund University in Sweden. These college students might be below employment at Volvo Group, ranging from the primary quarter of 2024.

9 Suzuki

Suzuki has been engaged on hydrogen combustion engine know-how, since displaying the 2007 Crosscage idea bike. The firm has additionally launched just a few hydrogen-powered Burgman scooters since 2010, which have used hydrogen gasoline cells to energy electrical motors. IIn 2023, the corporate launched a hydrogen-powered modified version of the Burgman 400 scooter that makes use of a hydrogen-powered inner combustion engine in comparison with the earlier hydrogen scooters’ gasoline cells.

Suzuki’s involvement within the HySE collaboration with other players like Toyota, Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki, is a part of what helped in advancing the hydrogen-fueled propulsion for the brand new Burgman. The prototype’s elongated wheelbase is because of a design geared toward accommodating the hydrogen tank. The firm has a give attention to learning the performance, efficiency, and reliability of hydrogen-powered engines. Suzuki’s efforts in the direction of hydrogen combustion engines will pioneer the motion within the motorbike trade.

10 Kawasaki

Kawasaki has been engaged on the event and manufacture of prototype hydrogen engines, refueling methods, provide networks, and hydrogen tanks. Under the HySE partnership, Kawasaki unveiled a supercharged four-cylinder hydrogen engine. The supercharged hydrogen engine ingeniously makes use of the supercharger to make sure environment friendly and optimized combustion.

It was examined on the 2024 Dakar Rally

A noteworthy problem encountered, nonetheless, is the decrease vitality density of hydrogen in comparison with gasoline, notably in its liquid kind, necessitating considerably bigger tanks for hydrogen-powered autos to realize comparable ranges. Kawasaki’s prototype automobile, which was examined on the 2024 Dakar Rally alongside the HySE-X1, has big hydrogen tanks within the locations the place saddlebags would’ve been, which suggests, till an answer is discovered, baggage capability is compromised.