Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S race car revealed

The new Aston Martin Rapide S was revealed in January, and now Aston Martin are taking the Rapide S racing, but with a twist – it’s going to be able to run on hydrogen.

Aston Martin has been working with hydrogen experts Alset Global and have developed a twin turbo version of their 6.0 litre V12 that can run on petrol, gaseous hydrogen or a blend of both and the plan is to run the Rapide S at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring next month with at least one lap run on hydrogen alone.

The hydrogen system in the Rapide S (which AM are calling a hybrid, but it’s only a hybrid in the sense it uses two fuels, not that it uses electric motors) has a hydrogen fuel rail, storage tanks and its won engine management system to control combustion.

There are four carbon fibre tanks holding a total of 3.5kg of hydrogen, stored at 350bar, with the entire system approved as safe by the DMSB, Germany’s motorsport governing body.

Ulrich Bez, AML boss, said:

As we celebrate our centenary in 2013 and look back on a century of excitement, innovation and style it’s also the perfect time to look to the future with this astonishing race car.

Aston Martin has a strong track record of innovation and, with our superb history of competition and testing at the Nürburgring, it is only right that we showcase this amazing new technology at this year’s 24-hour race.”

Working with Alset Global to unveil this system in such a challenging environment as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring shows once again how confident we are in our cars, our people and our partners.

It’s a good way to show the hydrogen is the future of power for transport, although no one is suggesting the system Aston Martin is using is the perfect solution for road cars.

Fuel cells powering an electric motor is the favoured route, although if a hydrogen ‘petrol’ can be developed we could see cars we already have being able to run on hydrogen instead of petrol.

Which would be an interesting route.

By Cars UK