FIA World Endurance Championship Making Progress Towards Hydrogen Future
Key Ideas
  • The FIA World Endurance Championship is in the early stages of developing technical regulations for a future hydrogen category, aiming to introduce hydrogen-powered cars by 2028.
  • Toyota, Alpine, and BMW have shown interest in competing in the hydrogen category, with the FIA and ACO expanding regulations to include liquid hydrogen storage.
  • Progress has been slow due to the establishment of general hydrogen power guidelines for all FIA championships, with a target debut in 2028 and potential overlap with existing car categories until 2029.
  • The balance between fuel cell and combustion hydrogen technologies is under discussion, with the possibility of equalization and potential shift towards single-seater designs for safety reasons.
The FIA World Endurance Championship is working towards implementing a new hydrogen category, set to debut in 2028. The technical regulations for the future category are still in the early stages, with Toyota, Alpine, and BMW expressing interest in participating. The governing bodies aim to establish guidelines for hydrogen usage that will be applicable across all FIA championships. Safety considerations are a priority, with plans to include liquid hydrogen storage in the regulations. While progress has been slow, a target date of 2028 for the hydrogen category remains. Discussions around fuel cell versus combustion hydrogen technologies are ongoing, considering factors such as efficiency and complexity. The potential for equalizing these technologies is being explored. The space requirements for hydrogen fuel tanks may lead to design changes in cars, possibly favoring closed single-seater configurations for safety. The future of traditional internal combustion engine cars post-2029 is uncertain, with considerations for new regulations to maintain grid diversity. Overall, the sentiment towards hydrogen in motorsport is positive, with a focus on technological advancement and environmental sustainability.
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