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 decarbonization of the economy that we are going through, H has become a resounding protagonist.
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.
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?
Water engine: a record that no one expected, but everyone wants
In fact, it does not reject hydrogen altogether, but uses it to its advantage. The Austrian company AVL Racetech has developed a powerful hydrogen combustion engine. An 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.
How does the water engine that is revolutionizing the hydrogen market work?
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.
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 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 AVL Motorsport Director and former professional racing driver Ellen Lohr.
She also warns that the company’s goal is to bring motorsport closer to sustainability.
Is hydrogen suitable for racing cars? This water engine may be the way
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.
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!