At this year’s Le Mans 24H, Bosch Engineering and Ligier Automotive have showcased a groundbreaking hydrogen-powered vehicle, marking a significant step toward a sustainable future in motorsport. This innovative car highlights the potential of clean energy technologies in racing.
A New Era of Racing Technology
Bosch and Ligier have been working tirelessly to perfect their hydrogen-powered demonstrator vehicle. After months of rigorous testing, they’ve optimized the engine and overall vehicle performance to ensure durability and top-tier performance. This development pushes demanding hydrogen drive technologies to the racetrack early, offering a glimpse of future applications on the road.
Impressive Performance
The modified vehicle boasts impressive stats: a power output of 443 kW, 650 Nm of torque, and a superb transient response from its 3.0-liter biturbo hydrogen engine. Extensive testing ensured the system’s robustness under extreme conditions, ranging from 0°C to 35°C. The vehicle consistently hit speeds over 280 km/h, nearing 300 km/h at times, and covered over 5,000 kilometers on the racetrack, matching the race distances of recent Le Mans winners.
Dr. Johannes-Jörg Rüger, President of Bosch Engineering GmbH, stated, “Our hydrogen concept meets the extreme demands of long-distance racing and provides an excellent foundation for future high-performance sports cars.”
Future Projects and Innovations
The insights gained from developing the Ligier JS2 RH2, particularly in high-pressure tank design and advanced hydrogen safety measures, will influence future customer projects for both Bosch and Ligier. They’re also exploring liquid hydrogen as a storage option, which offers a higher storage density than gaseous hydrogen and could revolutionize mobile hydrogen applications.
Joint Efforts and Responsibilities
Bosch Engineering led the overall vehicle design, engine development, tank concept, and hydrogen safety system. Ligier Automotive focused on vehicle dynamics, monocoque design, chassis adaptation, and cooling systems. They also optimized mechanical components for hydrogen use and integrated these into the new vehicle.
World Premiere at Le Mans
The Ligier JS2 RH2 made its public debut during the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and will now take a demo lap on June 15, 2024, showcasing its capabilities before the 92nd edition of the race. It will run alongside other hydrogen-powered racing prototypes, emphasizing motorsport’s role in developing and testing new energy technologies.
“The demonstration lap highlights motorsport as a fantastic research lab for new technologies,” said a spokesperson for the project.
Throughout the Le Mans 24H week, the Ligier JS2 RH2 will be on display in the Hydrogen Village, demonstrating the exciting future of sustainable racing.
