EHM is a very interesting project. It’s part of the ENSTARTUPS business incubator, where a team of enthusiasts is working on a hydrogen-powered engine for used cars. In just a few weeks, they raised €800,000 in funding and are now building their concept in Brittany with impressive speed. Keep reading to learn more about this innovative project.
Hydrogen engines to replace combustion engines
This ambitious project aims to tackle environmental issues and is all about the circular economy: local production, extending the life of existing cars, and no CO₂ emissions.
Gasoline and diesel engines usually run on four strokes: intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust. This cycle repeats to create the power that moves your car. But this new engine adds a fifth stroke that captures extra energy from the combustion process, making better use of the fuel.
By adding this extra step, the engine gets more power from the same amount of fuel, which means you get more mileage and save on fuel costs. The engine’s size and weight are designed to be practical for goods transportation, making it ideal for trucks and other heavy vehicles. EHM, the company behind this new engine, hasn’t revealed exactly how the fifth stroke works, but they say it can be used in trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.
EHM has actually been in the works for a few decades. It all started when André Morin, a pilot and expert mechanic, realized that new technology could make four-stroke engines more efficient.
A few years later, during a trip to the US, he met Wilson Hago, a Harvard graduate who is a physicist and chemist. Together, they decided to explore the idea further. After some time, they broke through the technological barriers and set the stage for a more efficient hydrogen engine (EHM).
The start of EHM
By the end of 2021, things really took off. Didier Arenal, a big name in the Breton industry, joined the team. He saw the potential in the project, assembled a group of experts, and took charge of the startup.
EHM is a groundbreaking project focused on creating a hydrogen-powered five-stroke engine to retrofit into used vehicles. The goal is to convert existing trucks, buses, and cars with traditional combustion engines to use hydrogen power, explains Didier Arénal.
The EHM start-up is located on the ENSTA Bretagne campus, providing a supportive and innovative environment. The team also receives guidance from Technopôle Brest Iroise, Bretagne Développement Innovation, and the Id4car cluster.
The project is collaborating with engineering schools like ENSTA Bretagne and various research centers focusing on automotive design, energy, and materials. They plan to build the first prototype in 2022 in Châteaulin, with vehicle testing scheduled for 2023. EHM aims to establish a production facility in Finistère, which will create jobs and help make the region a leader in this technology. The company ultimately wants to expand across France and Europe.
Implications of this new engine
Traditional combustion engines have an efficiency of about 37%, but EHM claims their engine can reach up to 50%, making it significantly more efficient. The engine is protected by five patents, using technology developed by the company to ensure it works as promised.
The company’s first engine will generate 265 kW, which is about 360 horsepower. A 100-million-euro investment is in the works to start building a factory to produce this engine. The plant will be located in Châteaulin, Finistère, in French Brittany.
Initially, EHM will focus on making electric generators based on this engine, which can be used in heavy vehicles like garbage trucks, fishing boats, and big rigs. The plan is to employ 50 people and produce about 3,500 units a year when production starts. Eventually, they aim to ramp up to 9,000 engines a year.