At the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours race, the ACO and FIA have officially unveiled the H24Evo – the latest iteration from the long-running MissionH24 project to develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered endurance racing car.
Using an Adess LMP chassis as its base, the hydrogen electric H24Evo features a new fuel cell system from supplier Symbio, which has been involved in efforts to run a hydrogen car at Le Mans, going right back to the GreenGT in 2012.
Serge Grisin, motorsport director at Symbio, explained to PMW that extensive work has been undertaken to optimize the packaging of the fuel cell, focusing on reducing the size and increasing the efficiency of the balance of plant surrounding the stack.
The new fuel cell has a power output of 300kW and is fed by a pair of class IV hydrogen tanks with a total capacity of 7.8kg. The fuel cell stack marks a notable improvement on that found in the previous H24 car, with almost double the power density. According to Grisin, this gives the capability of running stints in the region of 30 minutes at a pace equivalent to LM GT3. The fuel cell is paired with a lithium-ion battery pack, capable of handling outputs of 400kW, while the electric traction motor has a peak output of 650kW. Overall vehicle weight is 1,300kg.
Compared to the previous H24 car, the design has moved toward a central, single-seat concept, rather than the traditional two-seat sportscar layout. Notably the hydrogen tanks are now positioned behind the driver, rather than in the sidepods, as was the case on the first-generation car.
The car on display at Le Mans is only a full scale model, however. The current target is to have a running machine in 2025.
