Hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Filler neck for hydrogen of a BMW, Museum Autovision, Altlußheim, Germany
A BMW Hydrogen 7 concept car
RX-8 hydrogen rotary
BMW H2R
Musashi 9 Liquid hydrogen truck

A hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle (HICEV) is a type of

electrochemically rather than through combustion). Instead, the hydrogen internal combustion engine is simply a modified version of the traditional gasoline-powered internal combustion engine.[2][3] The absence of carbon means that no CO2
is produced, which eliminates the main greenhouse gas emission of a conventional petroleum engine.

As pure hydrogen does not contain carbon, there are no carbon-based pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO) or hydrocarbons (HC), nor is there any carbon dioxide (CO2) in the exhaust. As hydrogen combustion occurs in an atmosphere containing nitrogen and oxygen, however, it can produce oxides of nitrogen known as NOx. In this way, the combustion process is much like other high temperature combustion fuels, such as kerosene, gasoline, diesel or natural gas. Therefore, hydrogen combustion engines are not considered zero emission.

A downside is that hydrogen is difficult to handle. Due to the very small size of the hydrogen molecule, hydrogen is able to leak through many apparently solid materials in a process called hydrogen embrittlement. Escaped hydrogen gas mixed with air is potentially explosive.

History

Hippomobile in 1863. In 1970, Paul Dieges patented a modified internal combustion engine which allow a gasoline-powered engine to run on hydrogen.[5]

Tokyo City University have been developing hydrogen internal combustion engines since 1970.[6] They recently developed a hydrogen fueled bus[7] and truck.

Mazda has developed Wankel engines that burn hydrogen. The advantage of using ICE (internal combustion engine) such as Wankel and piston engines is that the cost of retooling for production is much lower. Existing-technology ICE can still be used to solve those problems where fuel cells are not a viable solution as yet, for example in cold-weather applications.

In 1990 an electric solar vehicle was converted to hydrogen using a 107 ml 4-stroke engine. It was used in a research project examining and measuring losses from the power conversions sun -> electricity -> electrolysis -> storage -> motor -> transmission -> wheels. Compared to its previous battery-electric mode, the range proved higher but the system efficiency lower and the available alkaline hydrogen generator too large to be carried on board. It was powered by a stationary solar installation and the produced hydrogen stored in pressure bottles.[8]

Between 2005 - 2007, BMW tested a luxury car named the BMW Hydrogen 7, powered by a hydrogen ICE, which achieved 301 km/h (187 mph) in tests.[citation needed] At least two of these concepts have been manufactured.[citation needed]

HICE forklift trucks have been demonstrated [9] based on converted diesel internal combustion engines with direct injection.[10]

24 Hours Nürburgring race.[11] The Rapide S was the first vehicle to finish the race with hydrogen technology.[12]

Hydrogen internal combustion engine development has been receiving more interest recently, particularly for heavy duty commercial vehicles. Part of the motivation for this is as a bridging technology to meet future climate CO2 emission goals, and as technology more compatible with existing automotive knowledge and manufacturing.[citation needed]

In September 2022, Kawasaki unveiled a hydrogen combustion engine developed using the same injector as the hydrogen Corolla, based on the Ninja H2.[citation needed]

In May 2023, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki received approval from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to form a technological research association called HySE (Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology) for developing hydrogen-powered engines for small mobility.[13]

Records and motor sport

In the year 2000, a

Shelby Cobra was converted to run on hydrogen in a project led by James W. Heffel (principal engineer at the time for the University of California, Riverside CE-CERT). The hydrogen conversion was done with the aim of making a vehicle capable of beating the current land speed record for hydrogen powered vehicles.[14][15][16] It achieved a respectable 108.16 mph, missing the world record for hydrogen powered vehicles by 0.1 mph.[17]

In May 2021, Toyota Corolla Sport, which is equipped with hydrogen engine entered the Super Taikyu Series race round 3 "NAPAC Fuji Super TEC 24 Hours", and completed the 24 hours race.[18] Toyota intends to apply its safety technologies and know-how that it has accumulated through the development of fuel cell vehicles and the commercialization of the Mirai.[19] In November 2021, five automotive manufacturers in Japan (

carbon neutrality, at the (three-hour) Super Taikyu race Round 6 held at Okayama International Circuit.[20]
Their common view is that the enemy is not internal combustion engines, and we need diverse solutions toward challenging carbon neutrality.[21] At the event, Yamaha Motor unveiled 5.0-liter V8 Hydrogen engine which is based on Lexus 2UR engine.[22]

In June 2022, Toyota revealed the progress of its efforts in the Super Taikyu Series at the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2022. They say cruising range was improved by approximately 20%, power output was improved by approx. 20% and torque was improved by approx. 30%. Also, Hydrogen suppliers are added and its transporting became more efficient to support the race.[23] In July 2022, Isuzu, Denso, Toyota, Hino Motors, and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT) announced that they have started planning and foundational research on hydrogen engines for heavy-duty commercial vehicles with the aim of further utilizing internal combustion engines as one option to achieve carbon neutrality.[24]

In August 2022, Toyota conducted demonstration run of GR Yaris H2, a special hydrogen-engine version of Toyota GR Yaris, during the ninth round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in Ypres.[25][26]

In May 2023, Toyota Corolla Sport which is equipped with liquid hydrogen engine entered the Super Taikyu Series race round 2 "NNAPAC Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race", and completed the 24 hours race. It was the first time that a car running on liquid hydrogen has entered a race anywhere in the world.[27][28]

In June 2023, Toyota unveiled a hydrogen race car "GR H2 Racing Concept" built for 24 Hours of Le Mans.[29][30]

Efficiency