Dutch students unveil ‘most efficient’ hydrogen car in the world
A student team from TU Delft in the Netherlands at the beginning of May revealed what could be the most efficient hydrogen car in the world.
The vehicle, named ERXII, is expected to cover more than 2,000 km on just 1 kg of hydrogen fuel – equivalent to the distance between Amsterdam and Kiev.
This claim will be tested in June at Shell’s Eco-Marathon event in France. Eco-Runner will compete with student teams from all over Europe to break the world record for the longest distance driven on hydrogen without refueling.
This year the number to beat is 2,056 km, driven by a Renault Zoe on methanol fuel cell in 2022.
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The 80kg carbon fiber vehicle is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible. At a constant speed of 45 km/h, the ERXII should be able to cover 2,056 km in three days.
This is one of the many hydrogen cars that Eco-Runner has developed in recent years.
“Efficiency and reliability are at the heart of this year’s project,” says team leader Julian de Klerk. “Although the previous concept proved to be efficient, this year we have aimed for improved reliability for the record we are trying to set. And well, it looks quite futuristic.”
Eco-Runner sees its tiny hydrogen car as a vision of a future where “all cars are smaller, lighter and more aerodynamic”, with an emphasis on “shared mobility” as “people use transport more sustainably and efficiently”.
This comes at a time when Europe is transitioning from fossil fuel vehicles to more sustainable alternatives. While most of the emphasis in the passenger car segment has been on electric cars, the Eco-Runner team believes that hydrogen-powered city cars also have a place on the tarmac.
“Electric cars are also part of the solution for sustainable mobility, but the electricity grid is already filling up,” said the spokesperson. operational manager Eliane van Boxtel. “Electrifying the whole world is not an option. Hydrogen and electric cars go hand in hand. There is not one big winner.”
For now, the students have set their sights on June, as they want to take home the first prize and set another record in hydrogen-powered travel.
