Written by Ollie Lewis, Edited by Tarun Suresh
Hydrogen: The ideal fuel for Stars and Cars?
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the observable universe, the building blocks for everything we can see and interact with. Hydrogen is crucial to life, vital in the formation of water and the fuel to the stars that keep our planet habitable. This somewhat magic and versatile element is only used in two cars as of 2024.
Those are the Hyundai Nexo and the Toyota Mirai. However, where does the application of hydrogen fit in the dynamic world of motorsport? Both Hyundai and Toyota’s performance divisions have also experimented with hydrogen performance cars in their performance divisions in recent years.
Hyundai’s N-Division has developed the N Vision 74, a stunning retro-style hybrid sports car with fuel cell technology and Toyota’s Gazoo Racing has also developed a GR Corolla that runs on hydrogen combustion.
So, what’s the difference between these two technologies and what are the prospects for hydrogen in the future of motorsport? This is the first part covering hydrogen in motorsport, focusing on Hydrogen Fuel Cells.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Hydrogen Fuel Cells function much like a battery does, with a store of chemical energy that is then used to produce a flow of electricity. Hydrogen, stored in the fuel cells, is passed to an anode where electrons are removed in a process called oxidation.
Oxygen, extracted from the air, is passed to a cathode where it gains electrons during the process of reduction. Within the cell, there is a material known as a proton-exchange membrane which essentially acts as a barrier that only lets protons through, forcing electrons around the membrane.
Electricity is the flow of electrons, therefore the flow of electrons around the membrane creates a flow of electricity which can then be used to charge a battery or to directly power electric motors.
This is used in the N Vision 74, Hyundai’s concept sports car that will be produced in 2026, where a fuel cell works in tandem with a typical electric powertrain to drive the wheels.
Hyundai N-Division
Hyundai’s N-Division has certainly been providing some exciting concepts over the last few years. The aforementioned N-Vision 74 is part of their ‘Rolling Lab’ program where they put new technology through its paces from a motorsport perspective.
If you are a fan of Gran Turismo, then you will likely be aware of the ‘Vision GT’ scheme, where manufacturers develop concepts to be used in the Gran Turismo series.
Hyundai’s contribution to this scheme is the N 2025 Gran Turismo, which is an extreme, high-downforce, purpose-built racing car. What is significant about this concept is that Hyundai used the same powertrain as the one seen in the N Vision 74, although it appears to be ramped up to 11 as it outputs a staggering 885hp.
Hyundai’s attempt at a Vision GT concept also has another benefit being that it is actually one of the lightest concepts provided at just 972KG. In comparison, Ferrari’s Vision GT concept weighs just over 1300kg with a 3L V6 hybrid powertrain.
Despite these amazing machines just being concepts, their importance in highlighting what manufacturers believe can be done in the future cannot be overstated and should not be ignored.
Hyundai clearly believes that a hydrogen hybrid system can be implemented into a Le Mans-style chassis and have even gone as far as designing a bespoke fuel cell that allows for better safety and weight distribution.
As with any new technology, there will always be those who are sceptical. It is certainly strange that a concept car is being discussed as if it were real, but this isn’t what we should focus on. Hyundai’s Vision GT highlights what could be achieved with today’s technology, using the same equipment Hyundai has already developed and will be put into production in the coming years.
Extreme H
Starting in 2025, Extreme E will be dissolved as a series. It will be replaced by Extreme H which, as you may be able to guess, will be powered by hydrogen. Using the same fuel cell technology as Hyundai’s concepts, Extreme H promises similar performance in just as insane settings as Extreme E.
Extreme H also shares a similar target to its electric predecessor, in that it wants to demonstrate the capabilities of modern and relatively untested technology.
Ali Russell, the managing director of Extreme E, stated that the aim of the Extreme H program is that they ‘want to inspire motorsport fans to think about things differently.’
They certainly achieved this with the slightly absurd Extreme E series, so there is little to suggest they won’t be able to prove the capabilities of hydrogen with a similar series. Extreme H will be powered by Symbio, one of the leaders in hydrogen technology, using their fuel cell technology to prove how competent hydrogen technology is and that electric vehicles (EVs) are not the only future.
Mission H24
Symbio has its fingers in many pies, with its technology being used all over the world. At the opposing end of the scale, Symbio is also heavily associated with the Mission H24 project. Having been founded in September 2018, Mission H24 are aiming to get a hydrogen car into the 24hrs of Le Mans by 2027 and is currently on track to do so.
At 2024’s Le Mans event, the striking H24EVO was unveiled to the world as a fully hydrogen-powered Le Mans-style racer. It is set to debut in 2025 during Q1, where it will undoubtedly be refined and perfected until it is reliable and safe enough to compete at such an event like Le Mans.
As part of the project, the team at Mission H24 are aiming to make the H24EVO the first homologated electric hydrogen prototype competing at Le Mans, which could see the establishment of regulations enticing other manufacturers and teams to compete in an entirely new class.
The H24EVO will be no slouch either, as Jean-Michel Bouresche, the CEO of H24Project, believes that its performance will match ‘the best GT3s.’
The project is well supported too, with partners like TotalEnergies, Symbio and Michelin being some of the most notable. With such large companies backing such a project, potential has clearly been seen in the project to once again prove the capabilities of hydrogen.
Using a hydrogen fuel cell system– the car will function much like an EV. However, it will be lighter and could be refuelled in a conventional manner rather than waiting a considerable time to charge or swap out batteries.
H2 Grand Prix Pro
H2 Grand Prix Pro is a scheme which encourages young, aspiring engineers to build RC cars that are essentially powered by the future. Similarly to the classic ‘Pinewood Derby’ cars used by scouts in America, the cars come in pre-homologated kits with all the components one would need to build their own RC car.
These kits embrace the use of hydrogen fuel cells, which is what powers the cars as well as other new and exciting technologies such as salt-water cells, supercapacitors and ethanol fuel cells which can all be used to drive the wheels. The main aim of this program is to educate young people about hydrogen fuel cells, as they will be the ones to use this technology in the future should it take off.
This is merely a brief overview of some of the most exciting projects involving hydrogen in motorsport and is a clear glimpse into the future of technology as a whole.
However, this just covers half of the hydrogen’s potential in motorsport as, in recent years, its applications in combustion engines have been recognised and are currently being developed by companies like Toyota, who have a massive influence in both motorsport and the consumer market.
This has been the first edition of Made in Motorsport, where I will be covering a plethora of technologies that have been or are currently being developed in the racing world.
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