Liquid hydrogen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2028

The ACO held its traditional press conference this morning ahead of the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), and the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) are continuing their efforts towards decarbonizing racing in general and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in particular through hydrogen. A category of hydrogen prototypes is set to be announced starting in 2028. A joint working group is contributing to the development of various regulations to introduce this pioneering and sustainable technology in endurance racing. Hydrogen will be stored in liquid form for obvious efficiency reasons in a sporting context. Furthermore, the MissionH24 program continues with the H24EVO.

Hydrogen, an unlimited source of inspiration

This announcement opens up almost unlimited possibilities for the use of hydrogen as a fuel. It is primarily possible to adapt an internal combustion engine to replace gasoline with hydrogen. The main modification does not come from the engine’s operation, but from the method of fuel storage. The usual tanks must be replaced by high-pressure storage units. Alpine will present at the opening of the race its Alpenglow Hy4 prototype. This futuristic supercar is powered by an internal combustion engine fueled by hydrogen. The two tanks are located on either side of the car, flanking the centrally positioned driver. It is currently equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine developing 340 hp. This is a first step before the arrival of a brand new V6 engine specifically designed to be powered by hydrogen, fully developed by Alpine. It will be unveiled aboard a second rolling version that will be presented before the end of the year.

Hydrogen can also be used in a fuel cell that provides electricity to a 100% electric motorization. This technology equips the H24EVO, which is on display this week in the Hydrogen village at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO, and Jean-Michel Bouresche, CEO of H24Project and co-chairman of MissionH24, revealed the full-scale model of the brand new zero-emission hydrogen electric prototype developed by ADESS. The H24EVO succeeds the LMPH2G and is expected to perform its first run during the first quarter of 2025.

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