Aston Martin will race the first Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S

The record-breaking Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S – based on Aston Martin’s new four-door, four-seat sports car – will become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international event as well as the first zero CO2 emissions sports car to complete a race pace lap at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.

Working in partnership with hydrogen experts Alset Global, Aston Martin’s engineers have developed a prototype twin turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 engine that will power the Nürburgring car.

[image_frame style=”framed_shadow” align=”center” alt=”Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen” title=”Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen” height=”380″ width=”500″]https://www.car-engineer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Aston-Martin-Hybrid-Hydrogen.jpg[/image_frame]

Capable of running on pure gasoline, pure gaseous hydrogen, or a blend of both, the Hybrid Hydrogen race car showcases Aston Martin’s commitment to engineering innovation. In pure hydrogen mode, Aston Martin and Alset Global aim to show that a zero CO2 emissions lap of the Nordschleife is possible while emitting virtually only water from the exhaust.

Welcoming the debut of the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S, Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer Dr Ulrich Bez said:  “Working with Alset Global to unveil this system in such a challenging environment as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring shows once again how confident we are in our cars, our people and our partners.”

The Hybrid Hydrogen system comprises a hydrogen fuel rail, storage tanks and proprietary engine management system. This enables flexibility in the control of the combustion process according to each particular driving situation: either pure hydrogen, gasoline or an arbitrary blend of both can be selected to ensure optimum power, acceleration and CO2 reduction. This control results in a powerful and dynamic propulsion system that provides sports car performance but with a carbon footprint more akin to that of a super mini.

[image_frame style=”framed_shadow” align=”center” alt=”Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen” title=”Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen” height=”380″ width=”500″]https://www.car-engineer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/AstonHybrideHydrogenSystem.jpg[/image_frame]

Safety is paramount, of course, and the system includes four ultra-high strength carbon fiber tanks holding a total of 3.5 kg of hydrogen stored at a pressure of 350 bar – two tanks housed next to the driver and two in the boot of the car. Meanwhile the entire hydrogen system developed by Alset Global and its partners is approved by German motorsport’s governing body, the DMSB.

The Hybrid Hydrogen race car is based on the new Rapide S four-door sports car that is arriving in Aston Martin showrooms worldwide this month.

Redesigned and re-engineered to offer style and enhanced performance by virtue of its new AM11 6.0-liter V12 naturally aspirated engine, the new Rapide S is capable of 190 mph (305 km/h) and sprints from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in only 4.9 seconds.

 Source: ASTON MARTIN

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Motorsport is used by automotive manufacturers as a technology showcase. If Hybrid Hydrogen manages to reach the podium in the next races, it could be a good marketing campaign for this technology. Do you believe in this technology? Would you prefer Hybrid Electric or Hydrogen?

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