Ferrari has filed a patent utility for a hydrogen-powered internal-combustion engine, hinting that the automaker is contemplating this as a solution to maintain combustion engines alive in a future with stricter emissions laws.
In contrast to hydrogen gas cells, which generate electrical energy that’s then used to energy motors, hydrogen combustion engines merely burn hydrogen as a substitute of gasoline in a course of that emits no carbon dioxide. It isn’t a brand new thought—BMW constructed a hydrogen-powered 7-Collection within the early 2000s—however that is the primary time Ferrari has publicly expressed curiosity in it. The automaker sees hydrogen combustion as a solution to drastically scale back emissions.
A hydrogen engine would generate no greenhouse gases and minimal quantities of different pollution like carbon monoxide and particulates, Ferrari claims within the patent utility, which was revealed by the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on Feb. 29 however filed by Ferrari in 2023.
Minimal emissions shouldn’t be the identical as zero emissions, nevertheless, and there is some concern in regards to the total carbon footprint of hydrogen manufacturing. Whereas hydrogen generated via electrolysis, with electrical energy from renewable sources, has low total emissions, different manufacturing strategies utilizing fossil fuels may very well be as soiled as coal, the non-profit Rocky Mountain Institute mentioned in 2022.
Ferrari 296 GTS Assetto Fiorano
Hydrogen additionally is not as energy-dense as gasoline, so it requires a bigger quantity of onboard storage to ship equal vary to a gasoline automobile. Ferrari admits within the patent utility {that a} automobile with a hydrogen-combustion engine might be “longer and heavier (for a similar vary) than the same automobile geared up with a petrol-powered internal-combustion engine.”
Fast refueling instances would possibly mitigate any vary deficit, however internal-combustion vehicles burning hydrogen would face the identical infrastructure points as fuel-cell automobiles. As a latest InsideEVs report notes, the restricted hydrogen infrastructure has confirmed unreliable, irritating homeowners of the Toyota Mirai fuel-cell automobile.
Toyota can also be exploring hydrogen combustion engines—and never simply within the type of patent filings. In partnership with Yamaha, the automaker fielded a hydrogen-powered Corolla race automobile in 2021 and confirmed a hydrogen-powered V-Eight based mostly on the engine used within the Lexus RC F in 2022.
It is unclear if Ferrari will do something related with hydrogen combustion. However with Porsche investing in artificial fuels as a solution to maintain internal-combustion engines round whereas addressing climate-change issues, maybe hydrogen might be Ferrari’s expertise of alternative for assembly that aim.