Farewell to the hydrogen engine

 The water engine is here to stay, it breaks performance records    

Water engine on the move for the first time in history, better than hydrogen and breaks power records. Leaving out conventional hydrogen in a context of energy transition is difficult, but there is a water engine that has succeeded (at least partially). It breaks power records. The car with two H engines was amazing, but what is coming next is no slouch either. In the context of the decarbonisation of the economy that we are going through, H has become a resounding protagonist. Scientists discover “dark oxygen” in the ocean, a discovery that could change our relationship with the planet, and it’s not a good one. The automotive world never stands still, we already know that, but are we facing a new revolution? More and more engineers and scientists are turning to find realistic alternatives to fossil fuels, and now, they are challenging everything we know.

The production of H for energy purposes is a topic of global interest. In fact, in recent years there has been a lot of talk about green H as a strong energy bet. Investment in its production is increasing globally. In the case of Spain, for example, 20% of the world’s new H projects were cornered during the first quarter of 2022. For years, hydrogen has been presented as the most viable option for this energy transition (although many users consider it to be more expensive than traditional fuels), but now, a water-based technology is stealing the show. A hydrogen combustion engine with water injection has managed to break power records and demonstrate that it is possible to overcome many of the limitations that this type of technology had until now. Is this the future of cars? That's the main question under consideration. According to Wood Mackenzie data, by the end of 2022, projects linked to this element raised their production by a total of 11.1 million tons per year. What does this water engine have to knock out such a widespread form of energy? Hydrogen has been a trending topic for some time, and in recent years, the so-called green hydrogen has started to sound louder than ever. More and more countries are investing in its development, betting on a cleaner energy model. Let’s explain this invention, and it is that, this engine does not eliminate hydrogen, but makes it more efficient, because by injecting water the combustion is better controlled.

The company behind this innovation is AVL Racetech, an Austrian firm that has been developing engines for racing cars for years. Together with the engineers from the HUMDA laboratory (in Hungary) they have achieved what seemed impossible: a hydrogen combustion engine capable of generating 410 horsepower with only two litters of displacement!! A record that no one expected, but everyone wants. It does not reject hydrogen altogether, but uses it to its advantage. The Austrian company AVL Racetech invention that demonstrates that this type of model can boast high performance and be used as an alternative to electric vehicles. In addition, it has potential for use in racing cars. It has appeared as a result of the union of engineers from AVL Racetech and the HUMDA laboratory in Hungary. Its innovative hydrogen combustion engine has a new feature that makes it special: a water injection system. With this addition, the power problem traditionally associated with this type of engine is solved. The secret of the engine is in the Port Fuel Injection (PFI) technology, a system that injects water into the engine’s air intake. And what does this achieve? It prevents premature ignition (which is often a problem in hydrogen engines). So, in general terms, this new technology improves performance, reduces the risk of overheating and makes the engine’s lifespan longer, such an incredible creation. The Port Fuel Injection or PFI inserts traditional water into the engine’s air intake system, which prevents premature ignition that could damage the part and achieves stoichiometric combustion. Translated, this means that the resulting proportions of air and fuel are more or less fixed. According to AVL engineers, this system can reach an engine speed of 500 Nm between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm, with a power density of 205 horsepower per litre as if we were talking about sports cars!

This, the company explains, highlights the potential disadvantages of lean-burn engines. The result of this extensive work has been a two-liter hydrogen engine that produces 410 hp and 500 Newton-meters of torque between 3,000 and 4,000 revolutions per minute, achieving a specific power density of approximately 205 hp per liter (150 kW per liter). AVL has tested its hydrogen engine and has ensured that it is powerful enough to compete in high-level races. Ellen Lohr, Motorsport Director at AVL and former professional driver, makes it clear: testing has shown that this engine can be very competitive and can keep up with the competition! AVL guarantees, based on actual tests, that the engine will be able to compete in top-level motor racing. “The results obtained by our H2 racing engine confirm that we are able to offer an extremely competitive package with this technology,” says Ellen Lohr. She also warns that the company’s goal is to bring motorsport closer to sustainability. As you will know, if you are passionate about motorsports, it is in motor racing where the technologies that are later transferred to the street are born. Le Mans, Formula 1 and other categories are the perfect example of “alchemy”, and all the innovations that are carried out on the tracks end up being transferred to our roads and highways. Hydrogen combustion engines are good for much more than racing. They can also help smooth the transition to zero-emission vehicles. In this way, the simplest and most abundant chemical element on Earth takes another step into the automotive world. Logic also leads us to think that there are many companies interested in transferring sustainability to racing, fighting to ensure that power and excitement are not lost in them. 

What will this creation bring? We don’t know, for now, it seems that it could be a potential fighter against traditional combustion vehicles, and the race towards zero emissions has now become much more interesting! Who would have told us a few years ago that we would be waiting to see novelties with engines that run on water and hydrogen? Those who have always believed in the potential of hydrogen see the water engine as a symbol of victory. It displaces the conception of H in vehicles that we have had up to now. If you’re fascinated by the H-range, you can’t miss what’s happening on the highways, the first H-roads are coming!