Overview

This pioneering passenger car integrates a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) with a mechanical kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), delivering a sustainable alternative to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). The design addresses BEV limitations, including resource-intensive battery production, grid decarbonization dependency, and the environmental toll of frequent vehicle replacement. By combining hydrogen combustion, mechanical energy recovery, and carbon-negative materials, this vehicle ensures low-emission, durable, and circular mobility that extends vehicle lifecycles and minimizes environmental impact.

Innovation

The vehicle introduces a transformative hybrid mechanical-electrical architecture:

1. Hydrogen Combustion Engine (H2-ICE): Powered by compressed hydrogen, the H2-ICE emits near-zero CO₂ and minimal NOx while utilizing existing internal combustion engine (ICE) manufacturing infrastructure. Unlike hydrogen fuel cells, it avoids costly rare materials like platinum, enhancing durability and scalability.
2. Mechanical KERS: A lightweight, carbon fiber-based flywheel system captures braking energy and reuses it for acceleration, improving efficiency by ~20%. This eliminates heavy battery packs and complex power electronics, reducing weight and resource use.
3. Carbon-Negative Materials: Over 60% of the vehicle’s structure (chassis, body panels, and aerodynamic components) employs carbon fiber derived from captured and recycled CO₂. This material sequesters ~200 kg of atmospheric CO₂ equivalent per vehicle, achieving negative embodied carbon.
4. Graphene-Enhanced Composites: Graphene reinforcement improves the carbon fiber’s strength-to-weight ratio, surpassing traditional petroleum-based composites for superior performance and durability.
5. Lifecycle Durability: Designed for repairability and longevity, the vehicle counters the BEV trend of replacement over repair, aligning with circular economy principles.

Feasibility and Manufacturability

• Engine Adaptation: The H2-ICE leverages existing ICE platforms, requiring only modest updates to fuel injection and ignition systems, minimizing retooling costs compared to BEV production.
• KERS Scalability: Mechanical KERS, proven in motorsport and commercial trucks, is adapted for passenger cars using lightweight carbon fiber flywheels, ensuring manufacturability.
• Hydrogen Compatibility: A dual-fuel (gasoline/hydrogen) system supports adoption in regions with emerging hydrogen infrastructure, such as the EU and Japan, facilitating a gradual transition.
• Cost Efficiency: By eliminating expensive battery packs (~$150/kWh), the vehicle leverages existing supply chains, achieving cost parity with BEVs.

Marketability

• Target Audience: The vehicle targets eco-conscious consumers, rural drivers, and fleet operators in regions with hydrogen incentives (e.g., California, Germany, Japan).
• Applications: Ideal for high-mileage use cases like taxis and ride-sharing, where rapid hydrogen refueling and durability address BEV range and downtime constraints.
• Environmental Appeal: By avoiding lithium and cobalt mining and reducing grid dependency, the vehicle appeals to sustainability-focused consumers. Partnerships with green hydrogen producers further enhance its eco-credentials.

Conclusion

This H2-ICE vehicle with mechanical KERS and carbon-negative materials offers a scalable, pragmatic bridge to decarbonized mobility. By reducing lifecycle emissions, leveraging existing manufacturing, and aligning with circular economy principles, it delivers a versatile, low-emission solution that meets diverse consumer needs while advancing global sustainability goals.