According to Muscle Cars and Trucks, Ford recently submitted a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office for a hydrogen-fueled combustion engine.
A typical hydrogen-powered car uses a propulsion system similar to that of an electric vehicle, with hydrogen energy being converted to electricity via the fuel cell.
Ford’s new patent, on the other hand, is for a hydrogen-powered turbocharged combustion engine. Furthermore, the company’s engine will theoretically be capable of running over a wide variety of air/fuel lambda values. As with a conventional internal combustion engine, the combustion process would be regulated via exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and valve timing.
The patent also covers direct injection of hydrogen into the cylinders, which could create up to 15% more power than a comparable gasoline engine. The patent documents depict the hydrogen combustion engine as a component of a hybrid powertrain that includes a motor-generator between the engine and transmission. The patent, however, covers only the method of combusting and regulating hydrogen mixtures, not the engine as a whole.
At the moment, it is unknown whether the patent will ever reach a production stage. Among Ford’s latest patents are one that enables you to drive a car using only your head and another that enables you to deploy a drone.
The revelation of Ford’s new patents comes on the heels of the company’s announcement earlier this month that it will split its business into two distinct sections. The business is currently developing a number of all-new electric vehicles under the Model E brand. While Blue Oval will focus on combustion models.
