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Will they or gained’t they? Rumors of a Porsche hydrogen gasoline cell automobile have begun swirling across the automotive press, following a brand new scoop from Automobile Buzz. If it does pan out, Porsche’s new hydrogen gasoline cell automobile will more than likely be unaffordable to all however the privileged few, however that’s okay. In any case, the Tesla Motor Firm began life because the area of interest producer of sporty battery-powered electrical autos with a $200,000 worth level, proper?

Porsche Is Hydrogen-Curious

CleanTechnica caught a whiff of Porsche’s curiosity in hydrogen-powered mobility again in Might of 2022, after we observed that the corporate was already dipping a toe in the electrofuels area.

The e-fuels group contains inexperienced hydrogen gasoline produced from water, with renewable power offering the electrical energy to run the method. It additionally contains artificial hydrocarbon fuels, which might be made with captured carbon in addition to inexperienced hydrogen to finish the sustainability loop.

Fueling an inside combustion engine with hydrogen shouldn’t be the identical as utilizing hydrogen in a gasoline cell, but it surely’s getting a bit nearer.

From Hydrogen ICE’s to Gasoline Cells

Certain sufficient, in August of 2022 Porsche introduced the outcomes of a examine indicating the feasibility of deploying hydrogen in a combustion engine.

The examine, carried out by the corporate’s Porsche Engineering Group, was geared toward creating a hydrogen combustion engine that “goals to match the facility and torque of present high-performance gasoline engines,” whereas additionally conserving gasoline and chopping emissions right down to the extent of ambient air.

That’s a bit extra sophisticated than it could appear. Hydrogen doesn’t produce greenhouse fuel emissions when burned at excessive warmth, however it could possibly produce nitrogen oxides.

“By way of optimising emissions by the hydrogen engine, the consultants at Porsche Engineering subsequently targeting nitrogen oxides,” Porsche explains. The answer was to  develop an “extraordinarily lean” colder combustion system.

On the time, Porsche additionally upped its curiosity in producing artificial hydrocarbon e-fuels with renewable power.  In December of 2022 the corporate introduced the launch of a brand new wind-powered e-fuel pilot plant in Chile, geared toward producing a drop-in alternative for gasoline (see heaps extra of CleanTechnica’s Porsche protection right here).

In January of 2023 the plot thickened, when Wards Auto took be aware of the corporate’s continued curiosity in hydrogen gasoline below the subheading, “Porsche has developed a hydrogen-powered internal-combustion engine to exchange its gasoline-powered V-8 and an artificial gasoline inventory that replaces gasoline.”

All collectively this may occasionally appear a bit complicated, however Ward’s reporting means that Porsche may do each. In any case, even when the corporate have been to pivot its factories fully into hydrogen engines in a single day, its present ICE clients would nonetheless want gasoline for his or her gasmobiles. On the green-o-meter, artificial gasoline from inexperienced hydrogen and captured carbon beats extracting extra oil from the bottom.

Porsche might also be eyeing the potential for producing e-gasoline for the final market as properly, which may rely on whether or not or not common previous gasoline is finally banished in favor of extra sustainable variations.

What About That Hydrogen Gasoline Cell Automobile?

As for the hydrogen gasoline cell rumor, that’s a complete ‘nother kettle of fish. Hydrogen gasoline cell automobiles are electrical automobiles, identical to their battery-powered cousins. The distinction is that gasoline cells generate electrical energy on-the-go via a response between hydrogen and ambient air within the presence of a catalyst, whereas batteries obtain their cost from a stationary supply.

Again in April of 2020, Porsche’s head of analysis and growth, Michael Steiner, threw chilly water on the gasoline cell thought in an interview with reporter Christiaan Hetzner of Automotive Information Europe.

“How enticing are gasoline cell fashions to Porsche, contemplating that the stacks are lighter than batteries?” Hetzner requested.

“We proceed to look at it, however in the meanwhile this know-how shouldn’t be suited to Porsche,” Steiner answered. “For one the standard output of a stack is about 100 kilowatts, so if you’d like extra energy you continue to want to incorporate a big battery to supply peak output. Meaning you want much more room for his or her set up.”

“Secondly, the system’s total power effectivity may be very poor as a result of it takes a number of electrical energy to separate water into hydrogen, distribute it to gasoline stations and convert it again to electrical energy,” Steiner added, referring to electrolysis techniques.

Steiner’s considerations have been legitimate on the time, however the price of electrolyzers has come down significantly in simply the previous few years since that interview, and so has the price of renewable power to supply the electrical energy.

Sure, What About That Hydrogen Gasoline Cell Automobile?

Porsche’s more moderen e-fuels enterprise solutions the considerations about electrolysis, and on January 11 of 2024 — that’s at present or yesterday, relying on whenever you learn this — Sebastian Cenizo of Automobile Buzz received the inside track on an answer for the issue of needing extra room.

“If a brand new submitting found by CarBuzz on the German Patent and Commerce Mark Workplace is something to go by, Porsche is contemplating producing hydrogen gasoline cell autos, ” Cenizo reported.

Gasoline cells are a mature know-how, however making use of them to a car includes overcoming some engineering challenges, comparable to making room for the hydrogen gasoline tanks and lowering the price of uncooked supplies. These, Cenizo noticed, have been the dual focus of the patent submitting.

If you’re stunned by the information, be a part of the membership. Cenizo additionally famous that proof of Porsche’s curiosity in a hydrogen gasoline cell automobile has by no means surfaced on the Automobile Buzz radar earlier than, aside from a single unsubstantiated report again in 2015.

“Mainly, whether or not we’re speaking hydrogen combustion or gasoline cells, Porsche is open to something however is much from committing. It’s rather more all for hybridization and/or artificial fuels,” Cenzio concluded.

Subsequent Steps For Porsche

If gasoline cells aren’t the street to Porsche’s electrification desires, it can at all times have batteries.

On November 11, Porsche took be aware of its progress on creating a battery-powered model of its Macan SUV, which launched 10 years in the past.

“As the primary Porsche mannequin constructed on the brand new Premium Platform Electrical (PPE), the SUV is a very new growth,” Porsche enthused. “The take a look at course of to make sure the right coordination of all elements and techniques is accordingly meticulous.”

“Porsche locations nice significance on real-world testing with camouflaged prototypes. On the identical time, simulations in each the digital world and wind tunnel are more and more exact and play an ever-greater function. That is significantly true in relation to making a brand new Porsche not solely sportier, but in addition extra environment friendly,” they added.

If a Porsche gasoline cell automobile ever hits the street, anticipate the same consideration to element. Gasoline cell automobiles have struggled to extend their footprint within the zero emission car market, however indicators of exercise are stirring within the SUV space with BMW and Honda amongst these within the operating.

It’s additionally value noting that Toyota has additionally been noodling round in the hydrogen combustion engine space for prime efficiency racing automobiles, along with holding the torch for street-legal hydrogen gasoline cell automobiles.

Simply saying…

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Picture (cropped): Porsche 911 GT3 sports activities automobile courtesy of Porsche.