The Aston Martin Rapide S Hybrid Hydrogen is the world’s first hydrogen-powered racecar capable of achieving zero CO2 emissions in race conditions.
The Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S – based on the recently launched four-door Aston Martin Rapide S road car – will become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international event when it lines up on the grid at this year’s Nurburgring 24-hour race, in Germany.
Working with hydrogen experts Alset Global, Aston Martin engineers has developed a prototype twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 engine that will power the Rapide S racer.
The car is capable of running on pure petrol, pure hydrogen, or a blend of both and will set out to prove that it is possible to run a zero-CO2-emission lap of the Nordschleife, emitting only water from the exhaust.
The on-board Hybrid Hydrogen system comprises a hydrogen fuel rail, storage tanks and a bespoke engine management system.
In order to meet the strict safety standards for the hydrogen component of the hybrid system the car is equipped with four ultra-high-strength carbonfibre tanks (two tanks next to the driver and two in the boot) holding a total of 3.5kg of hydrogen stored at a pressure of 350 bar.
The entire Hybrid Hydrogen system has been approved by Germany’s motor racing governing body, the DMSB, in readiness for the start of this year’s ADAC Zurich Nurburgring 24 Hours on May 19-20, which CarAdvice will be covering.
