Belgian AVL Racetech has succeeded in developing a four-cylinder engine that burns hydrogen. With a turbo, it produces a whopping 410 horsepower.
Belgian AVL has developed a compact, four-cylinder internal combustion engine that burns hydrogen. This innovative engine has the potential to change the way we think about fuel and propulsion systems in the future.
The AVL's hydrogen engine produces 410 horsepower from a modest two-liter displacement. It's an impressive feat, surpassing the liter output of the legendary Bugatti Chiron with its W16 engine.
– The sound of this engine is like a real racing engine, you wouldn't know it was hydrogen-powered if you didn't know it, says one of the engineers behind the project.
But developing a hydrogen engine is not without challenges. Hydrogen is a highly reactive substance that ignites easily.
– Hydrogen is a very reactive molecule. It likes to ignite on any surface you can think of – hot surfaces, hot oil droplets, too hot spark plugs, hot valves.
– There is a high chance that it will ignite, explains Paul Kapus, head of engine development at AVL Racetech.
In addition, hydrogen burns much faster than gasoline, which requires a completely different approach to combustion control.
Despite these challenges, AVL's engineers have managed to create a well-functioning hydrogen engine. A recently published video shows the engine in action on a test bench.
With a liter output of 205 horsepower, the AVL's engine is a step in the right direction. In comparison, Mercedes' two-liter gasoline engine produces 421 horsepower, which corresponds to a liter output of 210.5 horsepower.
Although the hydrogen engine cannot yet fully match the performance of the gasoline engine, the potential is there. AVL's hydrogen engine is proof that combustion engines can still play a role in a sustainable future.
The plan is now for the engine to be tested in a race car at Le Mans in 2026. This will provide valuable insight into the potential of the hydrogen engine in a competitive setting.
AVL's hydrogen engine is an exciting example of how innovation can lead to new solutions to old problems. With continued development, the hydrogen engine could become a real alternative to electric driving in the future.
