Chris Tully’s Post

🚗 Yesterday, Extreme E evolved into Extreme H becoming the first hydrogen fuel cell-powered motorsport in the world. The off-road racing series will become the testing ground for hydrogen as a new source of energy in the transportation industry. With 75kW of power, the new hydrogen-powered cars can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, but crucially their only emission is water vapor. Leakages and sourcing remain questions around hydrogen, but this could be a promising start for another alternative fuel source. Full story in Forbes ⬇. #sustainabletransport #climateaction #motosport #racing #hydrogen Alejandro Agag, Mark Grain, Josh Bell, Julia Pallé, Dr. Cristiana Pace, CEng Antonio Vizcaya Abdo, Neill Duffy, François Singer, Mark Boudreau LL.B., Matthew Campelli https://lnkd.in/eCJDKvPm

“AVL H2 ICE RACE: AN IMPRESSIVE HYDROGEN ENGINE FOR MOTORSPORT” “The #motorsport department of AVL Racetech has developed a #hydrogencombustionengine . A 2-litre block with a #turbocharger that develops more than 400 #horsepower and uses #waterinjection to boost performance.” “In November 2022, AVL Racetech announced the development of this competition #engine . This was a first for the company in its 20-year history. It’s true that the #hydrogen #combustionengine has become quite popular, as demonstrated by Toyota’s efforts in this area. It is also common knowledge that the technology has been accepted alongside the #fuelcell by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest as part of its future hydrogen category. “ “In fact, AVL’s #hydrogenengine was presented in 2023. And it won two awards at the Motorsport World Expo in Cologne: “Engine Technology of the Year” and “Innovation of the Year”. So what’s behind all the hype?” “Water injection on top of hydrogen to boost performance” “Unlike other #H2internalcombustionengines , which generally run on a lean mixture with excess air at the intake, and which prioritise fuel consumption over performance, the AVL Racetech engine makes little use of the lean mixture and can generate a level of performance of around 150 kW per litre. This puts this 2-litre #hydrogenpoweredturboengine at the same level of efficiency as #racingengines powered by #conventionalfuels . On top of that, this Austrian company is applying the principle of water injection to the hydrogen engine*. An injector squirts water along with the air, increasing boost pressure. In addition, the evaporating liquid has a strong #cooling effect in the #combustionchamber .” “”Realizing performance values at motorsport level with a hydrogen #internalcombustionengine is an incredibly complex technical challenge. But our prototype proves it can be done,” explained Project Manager Paul Kapus.” “Water injection in engines is a technique designed and used to improve or modify the technical characteristics or performance of an internal combustion engine. It has already been used in competitions. BMW had imagined applying it to a production car.” https://lnkd.in/eZew5yRw? Source- original post Read all my posts #MariusPreston #hydrogenmobility #hydrogenfuel

James Morris's latest piece for Forbes shines a very bright light on what looks like opportunistic greenwashing by the folk at WRC. Even if the fuel is really fully sustainable (which, by its nature, does not mean zero emissions), it does nothing to change the inefficiency of the ICE drive train. That in turn means that the source-to-tarmac inefficiencies of 'sustainable' fuel in standard combustion powered vehicles is broadly the same as green hydrogen fuel cells: all pretty rubbish vs. BEVs. It's hard to imagine that a BEV couldn't be used in WRC: the stage distances aren't huge and fast recharging would allow cars to be ready for subsequent stages, so it doesn't feel like a practical limitation - so could there be a vested interest in the success of sustainable fuels, perhaps 🙄 If they really believe BEVs can't compete, why not open the door and let them in???

There he goes again. Alejandro Agag, founder of the Formula E and Extreme #Ebattery-electric racing series, is now taking aim at #fuelcell #electricvehicles and #greenhydrogen, too. The new Extreme H series will be a showcase for innovations in #fuelcell mobility, and that’s just the tip of the green hydrogen iceberg envisioned by Agag. From Formula E To EV Charging Stations With Green Hydrogen Formua E launched in September of 2013 as a branch of FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), of the famous Formula 1 series. I caught the battery-powered action at the former Tempelhof Airport in Berlin in May of 2015, when Formula E was closing out its first season (see lots more Formula E stories here). The EV battery charging technology of nine years ago was not what it is today. Neither was battery-swapping technology, for that matter. The “Gen1” vehicles of the original Formula E came in identical pairs, enabling drivers to jump into a fresh EV to keep the race moving along, rather than waiting around to recharge or swap out the battery. Just three years later, in 2018, FIA ditched the car-switching strategy in favor of new EV batteries with enough range to finish a full race, no swapping allowed. Three years after that, the Extreme E off-road series launched with a green hydrogen twist. In order to recharge the batteries in off-grid locations along the course, Extreme E featured charging stations powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The stations followed the Extreme E series as it moved around the globe, demonstrating durability, reliability, and transportability for an off-grid, green-hydrogen EV battery charging solution. The green hydrogen for the fuel cells was produced from water by #electrolysis with the power provided by on-site #solarpanels, eliminating the need for a grid connection, and pushing fossil energy out of the hydrogen supply chain as well. Green Hydrogen In The Spotlight With Extreme H, Agag has pushed green hydrogen front and center, so much so that the new series is not an addition to Extreme E. Instead, it is described as a rebrand of Extreme E into a “new, more #environmentallyfriendly racing format.” Leaving that thing about more environmentally friendly aside for now, Agag is clearly among those eager to explore new challenges in the #zeroemission mobility field. “The evolution from Extreme E to Extreme H is one of the most thrilling advancements in motorsport and sustainable technology I have ever been part of,” Agag explains in a press statement. “This evolution promises not only faster and more intense racing, but also a significant step forward in exploring hydrogen as a sustainable and powerful energy source,” Agag enthuses.

Extreme E has officially anounced its switch to hydrogen to become Extreme H. Can its offroad racing shift the emphasis on decarbonizing transport away from batteries? I talked to founder Alejandro Agag for Forbes about the H2-powered future. Let me know your thoughts about the hydrogen move below. #ev #evs #electriccars #electricvehicle #electriccar #electricvehicles #electric #tesla #teslamotors #cars #electricandhybridvehicles #autos #automotive #motoring #elonmusk #extremee #extremeh #motorracing #racing #formulae #hydrogen #hydrogeneconomy #h2

Extreme H - a new zero-carbon racing series featuring fuel-cell powered off road vehicles - aims to accelerate interest in the automotive capabilities and potential of hydrogen. Jon Excell reports. There’s little doubt that consumer attitudes to electric vehicles have shifted dramatically over the course of the past ten years. Indeed, according to industry trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) sales of EVs - which comprised 0.7 per cent of the UK’s new car market in 2018 - now account for 18.5 per cent of all new cars sold. And this figure is expected to rise dramatically as we move ever-closer to the UK’s 2035 ban on new fossil-fuel powered cars.  Read more here 👇 https://lnkd.in/ekDwzh93 #theengineer #motorsports #hydrogen

Bonk motorsport fights for victory with renewable fuels from FEV For the 52nd edition of the iconic #24-hours race at the #Nürburgring last weekend, #FEV supplied successful team Bonk Motorsport with renewable ‘eFuel Racing 98’ produced by #DeCarTrans – a project being coordinated by FEV and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV). The project’s goal is to further develop an innovative process to produce synthetic gasoline from methanol, which is produced from biogenic or regenerative sources. After leading the class for cars powered by alternative fuels, the Bonk #BMW M4 GT4 with start number 888 finally achieved an excellent 2nd place in class. Due to the race being red flagged after a mere seven hours because of foggy conditions and poor visibility on track, team Bonk Motorsport was deprived of the opportunity to reclaim first place. At the time of the race being abandoned, the BMW M4 had only been a few seconds behind the temporary leader. However, the BMW’s fastest lap time in class had already demonstrated its winning potential. The race result reinforces the findings of the test bench investigations carried out by project partners FEV, Bertrandt and Bonk Motorsport in the run-up to the race: Renewable fuels are on a par with their conventional predecessors in terms of performance, while emitting significantly less PN and PM than conventional fuels. The use of the renewable ‘eFuel Racing 98’ enabled a #CO2-neutral participation at the 24hrs Nürburgring, as during the production of renewable fuels, the same amount of CO2 is extracted from the atmosphere as the vehicle emits during operation. #24hrace #fev #bonk #feelevolution #racing #nürburgring #bertrandt #decartrans

Bonk motorsport fights for victory with renewable fuels from FEV   For the 52nd edition of the iconic #24-hours race at the #Nürburgring last weekend, #FEV supplied successful team Bonk Motorsport with renewable ‘eFuel Racing 98’ produced by #DeCarTrans – a project being coordinated by FEV and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV). The project’s goal is to further develop an innovative process to produce synthetic gasoline from methanol, which is produced from biogenic or regenerative sources.   After leading the class for cars powered by alternative fuels, the Bonk #BMW M4 GT4 with start number 888 finally achieved an excellent 2nd place in class. Due to the race being red flagged after a mere seven hours because of foggy conditions and poor visibility on track, team Bonk Motorsport was deprived of the opportunity to reclaim first place. At the time of the race being abandoned, the BMW M4 had only been a few seconds behind the temporary leader. However, the BMW’s fastest lap time in class had already demonstrated its winning potential.   The race result reinforces the findings of the test bench investigations carried out by project partners FEV, Bertrandt and Bonk Motorsport in the run-up to the race: Renewable fuels are on a par with their conventional predecessors in terms of performance, while emitting significantly less PN and PM than conventional fuels. The use of the renewable ‘eFuel Racing 98’ enabled a #CO2-neutral participation at the 24hrs Nürburgring, as during the production of renewable fuels, the same amount of CO2 is extracted from the atmosphere as the vehicle emits during operation.   #24hrace #fev #bonk #feelevolution #racing #nürburgring #bertrandt #decartrans

Bonk motorsport fights for victory with renewable fuels from FEV   For the 52nd edition of the iconic #24-hours race at the #Nürburgring last weekend, #FEV supplied successful team Bonk Motorsport with renewable ‘eFuel Racing 98’ produced by #DeCarTrans – a project being coordinated by FEV and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV). The project’s goal is to further develop an innovative process to produce synthetic gasoline from methanol, which is produced from biogenic or #regenerative sources.   After leading the class for cars powered by alternative fuels, the Bonk #BMW M4 GT4 with start number 888 finally achieved an excellent 2nd place in class. Due to the race being red flagged after a mere seven hours because of foggy conditions and poor visibility on track, team Bonk Motorsport was deprived of the opportunity to reclaim first place. At the time of the race being abandoned, the BMW M4 had only been a few seconds behind the temporary leader. However, the BMW’s fastest lap time in class had already demonstrated its winning potential.   The race result reinforces the findings of the test bench investigations carried out by project partners FEV, Bertrandt and Bonk Motorsport in the run-up to the race: Renewable fuels are on a par with their conventional predecessors in terms of performance, while emitting significantly less PN and PM than conventional fuels. The use of the renewable ‘eFuel Racing 98’ enabled a #CO2-neutral participation at the 24hrs Nürburgring, as during the production of renewable fuels, the same amount of CO2 is extracted from the atmosphere as the vehicle emits during operation.   #24hrace #fev #bonk #feelevolution #racing #nürburgring #bertrandt #decartrans

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has said it will focus efforts on the development and promotion of liquid hydrogen storage solutions across different disciplines and competitions. Following the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting on Wednesday (February 28), the world motorsport body has said it will continue development of #hydrogen-fuelled power units across disciplines, with a focus on liquid hydrogen. It comes as part of the FIA’s energy transition roadmap to gradually introduce sustainable power sources into motorsport. The FIA has said given #liquidhydrogen tank characteristics, lower volume and weight compared to gaseous hydrogen tanks, it is “better suited to the demanding environment of motorsport competitions.” It added, the use of liquid hydrogen storage allows the #powertrain layout to remain closer to conventional combustion-powered cars, compared to vehicles accommodating compressed tanks. Under the plans, Extreme H could become an FIA Championship in its inaugural 2025 season before becoming an FIA World Championships from 2026 if criteria is met. Commenting on the plans, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said, “Using sustainable power sources in motorsport is the key objective of the FIA and part of our long-term strategy, and this series is an ideal showcase for that. “Hydrogen is an important part of that mix, and we have developed a set of safety regulations for hydrogen-powered vehicles which is part of the FIA’s International Sporting Code.” #LH2 #hydrogen #LiquidHydrogen