Gearing Up for New Hybrid Hydrogen Automotive Technology

There is an enormous amount of pressure on introducing new plans to help reduce the level of CO₂ emissions in the atmosphere.

With an on-going demand to try and reduce emissions from the transport sector, one company, Alset Global, has managed to open a new window for automotive manufacturers to think about how they can incorporate a hydrogen fuel supply system into their cars without any restriction on the driving range and the time it takes to refuel a car.

According to The Climate Change Act (2008), the UK Government is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 34% by 2020 compared to levels in 1990 in the UK.

With automakers being put to the test on how to overcome the pressures and meet the demands of a growing eco-friendly market, Alset’s novel Hybrid Hydrogen fuel supply system has given all car manufacturers fuel for thought, particularly Aston Martin.

What does it do?

The Rapide S race car by Aston Martin is one such example. This race car features a Hybrid Hydrogen System and is the first car manufacturer to incorporate this novel concept.

Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez commented that “we have exceeded our already very ambitious target of completing a full lap of the Nürburgring on hydrogen”. This is definitely a fine example of how an automotive icon is helping evolve engineering into a new era.

The technology allows modern combustion engines to utilize hydrogen as a fuel source or to combine hydrogen with gasoline or diesel. With its low density and simple structure, hydrogen has become a popular option among car manufacturers to replace the use of gasoline.

Alset has aimed at creating a fuel source that offers clean mobility without affecting the user's driving experience. The system includes a fuel supply unit, a tank, and an engine control unit.
With a cross-platform solution, the Hybrid Hydrogen system is an environmentally-acceptable optimization to a plethora of engines and combustion systems that require minimal adaptation and disruption to the automotive industry.

One of the main advantages of this system for the end-user and the environment is that it offers 100% carbon-free mobility in pure hydrogen mode. There is also the benefit of being able to rely on the existing fuel network system when the hydrogen runs out between fills.

What this technology really emphasizes about existing efforts to help meet demands to reduce CO₂ emission is that it allows YOU, the driver, to be part of a growing effort to create a better, CO₂-free atmosphere.

Test driving this technology

So how has this system been tested? This Hybrid Hydrogen concept has been taken for a spin on one of the world’s most challenging motor race events, the AZAC Zurich Nürburging 24 hour race in Germany under challenging weather conditions.

Aston Martin’s Rapide S race car with Alset’s Hybrid Hydrogen System.

The Aston Martin Rapide S race car put the Hybrid Hydrogen System to the test allowing the car to reach an impressive top speed of 160 mph/255 kph simply on 100% hydrogen as a fuel source.

Aston Martin Rapide S race car. Image Credit: Alset Global.

An appreciation for this technology comes from Jose Ignacio Galindo, CEO, and founder of Austria-based Alset Global – “This is a historic day for two reasons: besides being the first hydrogen-powered race car to complete and undertake zero CO₂ emission laps, it has showcased the most practical technology available to fundamentally, and within a very short period of time, address the challenges of global emissions, without disrupting the automotive industry.”

Driving into the future

In an automotive market that still relies on gasoline and diesel as a standard fuel supply, could this new Hybrid Hydrogen System become popular among the customers? If this system can demonstrate a performance level similar to that during its run with Aston Martin, then we may see a comfortable conversion of hydrogen integrated into modern-day internal combustion engines.

The automotive industry is going through some fundamental developments to its engineering platforms and finding an eco-friendly solution to the use of automotive products is definitely going to be a key driver over the next decade.

One could argue that there are still hurdles to the mass production of hydrogen, lack of hydrogen refueling networks, and how well consumers will warm to the concept of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Sources and Further Reading

• Alset – Hydrogen Mobility

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