Punch Group in Belgium is preparing to manufacture hydrogen internal combustion engines based on General Motors diesel engines.

European commercial vehicles will benefit from this conversion, which will speed up the transition to cleaner fuels in the region.

Hydrogen energy in general and its use in the automotive industry in particular became a priority for EU officials last year. By 2030, hydrogen refueling stations will be located every 150 kilometers on European highways, thanks to billions of dollars in investment in hydrogen infrastructure. Hydrogen start-ups and commercial hydrogen models are emerging in tandem with the shift in the European economy in favor of hydrogen.

With a bet on good old internal combustion engines rather than pricey electrochemical generators, the Belgian Punch Group has also entered the hydrogen race.

It is anticipated that the Punch Group will produce hydrogen internal combustion engines as early as 2024, with output ranging from 80 to 400 kW. (from 109 to 544 hp). Punch’s hydrogen-powered engines will be used mostly in large buses and trucks, thanks to the extra room provided by their design. However, due to the high rate of combustion required by the hydrogen engine, water must also be injected into it, raising the bar for corrosion resistance in materials.

The location where hydrogen internal combustion engines will be built has not yet been selected.