Hydrogen ICE seen as medium-term solution; limited practicality as of now; expected to co-exist with BEVs & FCEVs.
Here’s an article from E2 Auto about Hydrogen ICE.
According to the article,
- Storage: Bulky and expensive hydrogen tanks, carbon fiber could be a solution.
- Emissions: 95% cleaner than diesel but not zero-emission, might not qualify for green incentives.
- Role: Stepping stone for cautious carmakers towards FCEVs, not the ultimate green solution.
Here are the key opportunities and challenges associated with retrofitting existing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to run on hydrogen:
Opportunities:
Our specialty focus areas include 
- Leveraging Existing Infrastructure: Hydrogen ICE (H2-ICE) cars can use the current infrastructure for refueling and maintenance, as they are similar to traditional ICE vehicles. This enables a quicker and more cost-efficient transition compared to constructing new hydrogen infrastructure from the beginning.
- Accelerating Hydrogen Adoption: Retrofitting existing ICE vehicles to run on hydrogen can help accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as a fuel, as it provides a familiar and accessible option for vehicle owners.
- Lower Upfront Costs: Retrofitting ICE vehicles to H2-ICE is expected to be less expensive than purchasing new hydrogen-powered vehicles, making it a more accessible option for fleet operators and individual owners.
- Robustness and Tolerance: H2-ICE technology is more robust and tolerant to fuel contaminants, vibration, and dust compared to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). This makes it a suitable option for retrofitting existing vehicles.
Challenges:
- Hydrogen Storage and Safety: Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas, requiring significant investments in storage tanks made of specialized materials like carbon fiber. Ensuring the safe storage and handling of hydrogen is a critical challenge.
- Emissions and Efficiency: While H2-ICE vehicles have lower emissions compared to traditional ICE vehicles, they are still not as efficient or emissions-free as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or FCEVs.
- Technological Limitations: Existing ICE vehicles may not be easily adaptable to run on hydrogen, as it requires significant modifications to the engine, fuel system, and other components.
So at the end, although H2 ICEs have potential, FCEVs remain the ultimate green goal.
Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:
Efficiency of Hydrogen-Powered Diesel Engines: Researchers convert diesel engines to run on 90% hydrogen, boosting efficiency by 26%, offering a cleaner alternative and quicker solution for environmental impact reduction. Hydrogen-Powered Engine for Cost-Effective Zero-Emission Developed by JCB: JCB unveils hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine as practical, cost-effective zero-emission alternative for heavy machinery, addressing challenges for widespread adoption.
