The announcement of the first ultra-cheap EVs was a historic milestone in sustainable mobility, just like the discovery of the proton engine that Einstein had predicted. However, scientists are in shock at the launch of an engine that should not exist: it is both combustion and zero-emission, something we considered impossible until now (even Tesla and this unseen concept, that remains old with this new invention).
How can this exist? Experts are on edge with this innovative engine
Today the automotive industry is currently moving towards a future in which there are pollution free vehicles. All significant automobile manufacturers and engineering companies are venturing into the field of production of electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Nevertheless, Austrian engineering company AVL is developing a one-of-a-kind hydrogen combustion engine which it claims will deliver on the promise of hydrogen in the engine the public understands. Because this engine is an adaptation of the traditional gasoline engines it compresses the hydrogen fuel.
This novel design highlights another option for zero-emission technology that does not require substantial changes to vehicles and their powertrains and fueling networks. AVL Racetech hydrogen engine has the potential to help achieve sustainable mobility and is based on existing manufacturing facilities and technology.
Zero-emissions and combustion engine, at the same time? It could be real
The AVL Racetech engine, therefore, is an internal combustion engine that uses hydrogen gas as the fuel instead of the conventional gasoline. Whereas a conventional gasoline engine drives on the combustion of normal gasoline contained in the cylinders, the AVL Racetech has been applied to burn pure hydrogen gas.
Hydrogen fuel is injected into the combustion chamber where it can be mixed with air through an injector, and the mixture is ignited by an ignition spark like in the classical gasoline engine. But the hydrogen’s narrower flammability range limits is what allows the AVL Racetech engine to run higher compression ratios.
The use of the pure hydrogen fuel also eliminates emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere since the only product of an engine that burns hydrogen is water vapour. This can be seen to be a major edge factored in the use of the AVL Racetech engine since it would free it of the production of greenhouse gas pollutants.
2-liter and 410 hp: how can this powerful hydrogen engine exist?
AVL Racetech hydrogen engine prototype is rich in specifications which explain that hydrogen engine is worthy. This is one of the most powerful engines with a capacity of 2 litres and with 410 horsepower. This illustrates very much more an extremely high power density, achieving 200 hp/liter of displacement.
For reference most typical commercial passenger cars have engines with power density in the range of 60-120 horsepower per liter. Gasoline-powered petrol engines in speed-hungry road autos can now deliver as much as 160 horsepower per liter from highly tuned engines.
Thus AVL prototype at the developmental stage already possesses higher performance characteristics than ever HPC has offered. Combustion can produce so much power in a 2 liter displacement the engine goes to show what hydrogen can and how well the engine is designed.
This segment will demonstrate that this prototype has been a successful representation of hydrogen’s ability to deliver elevated power in a small and lightweight package that is well-suited to racing. The technology proves relatively favorable in showcasing hydrogen as a clean high-performance fuel.
That a hydrogen engine is making headlines and taking space away from EVs is great news for those of us who are looking for innovation in the transportation sector to go much further. Carmakers are not content with the latest proposals and want to continue developing new solutions. Don’t you remember the first ammonia fuel for cars? Further proof of how far they are going.
