French car manufacturer Ligier has unveiled its JS2 RH2 race car at the Le Mans 24 Hours, which uses a hydrogen-combustion powertrain. The car is part of a partnership with Bosch to demonstrate the technology’s potential in the future of motorsport. The JS2 RH2 is based on the standard Ligier JS2 R race car and uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged Ford ‘Cyclone’ V6 engine, which has been modified to deliver fuel-efficient combustion with low nitrogen oxide emissions up to a partial load. The V6 now produces 563bhp, 238bhp more than the standard petrol unit, and will be optimised even further in the coming weeks.
Development Challenges
One of the biggest development challenges was ensuring smooth, uninterrupted combustion without pre-ignition at the continuous high demands and engine speeds that racing entails. To optimise packaging, the hydrogen storage system uses high-pressure Hexagon Purus tanks integrated within the car’s carbon monocoque that operate at pressures of up to 700 bar. To protect it against a “failure situation”, the hydrogen tank itself, engine compartment and components that regulate how much hydrogen is used at any given moment are all kept separate. A ventilation system removes hot gases and cools the engine bay, with leaks in the system identified by an array of sensors.
Safety Systems
Jörg Ruger, president of Bosch Engineering, says the car’s safety systems can range “from a warning to the driver on the display to a shutdown of individual line circuits up to an entire system shutdown”. Ligier isn’t the first manufacturer to evaluate the potential of hydrogen-combustion engines in motorsport. Toyota has so far been the main proponent of the propulsion method, testing it in Japan’s Super Taikyu race series with a modified Toyota Corolla and in last year’s WRC Rally Belgium with a modified GR Yaris. As of February last year, Toyota was also working with Yamaha to develop a hydrogen-fuelled 5.0-litre V8, claimed to make 449bhp and 398lb ft – almost identical to the petrol V8 in the Lexus RC F Track Edition.
Testing
The car has already undergone testing on German racetracks, and trials will continue across Europe this summer. According to Jacques Nicolet, president of Ligier Automotive, the car shows that Ligier is “ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges”. Both Ligier and Bosch remain tight-lipped on weight figures. However, the JS2 RH2 is expected to be slightly heavier than the conventional JS2, which weighs 1055kg.
Conclusion
Ligier’s JS2 RH2 race car is a significant step towards demonstrating the potential of hydrogen-combustion engines in motorsport. The partnership with Bosch has enabled the development of a powertrain that delivers fuel-efficient combustion with low nitrogen oxide emissions up to a partial load. The car’s safety systems are designed to protect against a “failure situation”, with an array of sensors identifying leaks in the system. The car has already undergone testing on German racetracks, and trials will continue across Europe this summer.