A group of students from Eco-Runner Team Delft in the Netherlands is working on developing the world’s most efficient hydrogen car, with the goal of driving at least 2056 kilometres on less than one kilogram of hydrogen. The team of engineers has been building more efficient hydrogen cars every year, but this latest prototype must be sturdier to cover the long distance, comparable to a ride from the north of the Netherlands to southern Spain.
The 71-kilogram prototype was recently presented by Eliane van Boxtel, the operations manager of the team. The small city car is for one person and has been stripped of all unnecessary luxury. Van Boxtel says the focus is on sustainability, adding that the next step is developing a car that is still as efficient as possible but can also be driven on the street.
While there are already hydrogen consumer cars available, they are less economical. For example, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen has two hydrogen tanks that can store just under six kilograms of hydrogen and provide a range of 504 kilometres. The Toyota Mirai has a tank capacity of 5.6 kilograms and can drive up to 650 kilometres with a full tank.
In the Eco-Runner’s hydrogen car, green hydrogen is converted into electrical energy, which creates only water vapour and heat, leading to a range of environmental benefits. The team’s goal is to be part of the research into an emission-free society without the use of fossil fuels.
The students believe that sustainability is a collaborative effort and that everyone needs to work together. The vision is that by 2050, the use of this car should be the “new normal” in a more livable world. The students are currently preparing to attempt to break the world record for the longest distance driven by a hydrogen car without refuelling on a German circuit. The goal is to drive around sixty hours at a speed of 45 kilometres per hour.
The cost of the project has not been disclosed by the team, but they have received a lot of help from sponsors and assembled the prototype themselves in their workshop.
Overall, this project marks a significant step towards a more sustainable future for transportation. As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change, the development of efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles is critical. With the right support, the technology behind the Eco-Runner’s hydrogen car could become a more common sight on our roads, paving the way towards a greener future.
