Ford will become the first automaker to sell a hydrogen internal combustion engine when it begins deliveries of its E-450 shuttle buses later this year. Unlike a hydrogen fuel cell — which provides power to an electric motor — the hydrogen combustion engine burns hydrogen in the same manner a conventional gasoline engine. Production of the 6.8-liter V10 engine began today, the automaker said. “This engine represents a significant milestone in Ford’s research efforts in hydrogen technology,” said Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Research & Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company. “We have learned a great deal about hydrogen powered internal combustion engines during the development phase of this engine.”
Ford’s 6.8-liter V-10 engine is specially prepared to burn hydrogen as a fuel but is based on the same modular engine series that powers many Ford vehicles. It produces 235 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm. Redline is 5000 rpm.
Hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines have many advantages including high efficiency, all-weather capability, and near zero emissions of regulated pollutants and greenhouse gases (CO 2). They can also be easily hybridized for further gains in fuel efficiency.
While the hydrogen internal combustion engine shuttle buses will provide valuable real-world experience, Ford is also conducting research into next generation hydrogen internal combustion engines, including features such as direct injection to enhance power and fuel economy. “We have only scratched the surface in terms of what can be achieved with hydrogen internal combustion engine technology and are serious about maintaining our edge in this field,” said Vance Zanardelli, chief engineer, Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines, Ford Motor Company.
Ford’s hydrogen internal combustion engine is much more than just a converted production engine. This 6.8-liter V-10 engine is specially prepared to burn hydrogen as a fuel but is based on the same modular engine series that powers many Ford products. Significant efforts were made to optimize this engine for hydrogen fuel to achieve maximum efficiency and robust durability in the customer’s hands.
Prior to production, more than 7,000 hours of development and testing was performed on engine dynamometers to ensure optimum durability and performance when vehicles reach customers later this year. The engine development process replicated the same stringent durability standards applied to other Ford engines.
Specialized components in the engine include:
- Valves and valve seats – special hardened materials are used to compensate for hydrogen’s reduced lubricating properties compared to gasoline or natural gas
- Spark plugs – Iridium tipped plugs allow for increased spark plug life
- Ignition coils – high energy coil-on-plug coils, to manage unique ignition characteristics
- Fuel injectors and fuel rail – Fuel injectors designed specifically for hydrogen and high volume fuel rails
- Crank damper – tuned for hydrogen fuel to ensure smooth operation
- Pistons, connecting rods and piston rings – high output designs to accommodate the higher combustion pressure of hydrogen combustion
- Head gasket – accommodates increased combustion chamber pressures
- Intake manifold – all-new to accommodate twin screw supercharger and water-to-air intercooler
- Twin screw supercharger and water-to-air intercooler – added to improve power output and maximize efficiency
- Engine oil – full-synthetic formulation developed in partnership with BP/Castrol optimized for hydrogen combustion properties
07/17, 6:16 PM
posted by:
chris2
Why is Ford waisting their time on Hydrogen? Everyone knows that Hybrid gas/electric is the only technology for the future. Anyway that is what I read in the media.
07/17, 6:20 PM
posted by:
Kyle
Too bad the hydrogen multifuel BMW 7 series didn’t beat it to the market.
07/17, 6:21 PM
posted by:
pj
every media has its own opinion on what type of fuel is the future this engine says it can easily be a hydrogen/eectric engine
07/17, 6:26 PM
posted by:
mbftw
Well chris2…you’re an idiot for believe the “media”.
07/17, 6:28 PM
posted by:
mbftw
er…believing*
Hydrogen has many pros and cons, just as many as hybrids do. The market will determine which wins.
07/17, 6:40 PM
posted by:
Justin
I think hydrogen is going to be the fuel of the future!!.. and I just wanna know if this new hydrogen combustion engine still only emits water vapor… Wheres GM’s Hydrogen internal combustion engine.. I wonder if their betting on hydrogen fuel cell???
07/17, 6:42 PM
posted by:
Tom in Nashville
6.8 liter v-10 with an intercooled supercharger, yet it only produces 235 hp and, more importantly 310 ft/lbs of torque. What am I missing here?
07/17, 7:32 PM
posted by:
mikeL
tom, it is brand new technology, how good were EFI engines compared to carb engines when they first came out? besides, this is for commercial uses, shuttle busses are slow, which would explain the 235hp and 310ft/lbs of torque. also, if you remember ford’s v10 in the excursion, that wasn’t exactly hot stuff either, so i’d like to see what ford does w/ a modular v8 running hydrogen fuel in the personal vehicle market.
i’m not defending it so much as i’m saying they just need a chance to prove themselves on the technology, it really could go either way.
07/17, 7:37 PM
posted by:
mikeL
oh ya, and i think the common fuel guzzling v8 option on this shuttle puts out bout 250ish hp and about 350ft/lbs of torque, so it’ll be slower than the v8, but more efficient, and in a couple years will be just as efficient as the v8 as far as power goes.
07/17, 8:16 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
At least some progress is being made on this alternative to gasoline so I gotta give Ford credit for that. Funny, I remember in W’s speech about our “addiction to oil” some speechwriter gave him the soundbyte “a Manhattan style project to develop alternative energy” and then he and his administration has done NOTHING, other than further destabilize the oil market, and drive up price, by ignoring diplomacy in political hotspots like Israel/Lebanon.
07/17, 8:30 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
This engine is certinaly not on the market yet.
BMW’s by-now-famous hydrogen internal combustion V12 engine is scheduled to make it’s debut with the current generation 7-Series. Considering that the 7er is slated for replacement before 2008, we’ll see if Ford really becomes the “first automaker to sell a hydrogen internal combustion engine”. It’s possible that BMW will surprise us. Who knows.
07/17, 10:17 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
more clueless responses.
07/17, 10:37 PM
posted by:
manny
wasnt this engine in that super chief concept at detroit?
and if this engines already in production, i doubt bmw can surprise us by coming out with it first…
07/17, 11:21 PM
posted by:
Weezy
Lil’ Wayne is the best rapper alive…
07/17, 11:42 PM
posted by:
Jim in LA
very cool! congrats, ford.
07/18, 1:02 AM
posted by:
GMrules
This engine will never work. Wait until GM’s helium hybrid comes. It will blow you all away.
07/18, 1:08 AM
posted by:
Will
Hydrogen will become more and more feasible as energy costs increase, because the production, transport and storage of hyrdogen requires vast amounts of energy… when these costs are comparable to fossil fuels it will become financially viable and the change will be made.
07/18, 2:06 AM
posted by:
Fatstrat
This is a step in what appears to be the right direction. Right now, infrastructure for delivery of hydrogen based fuels is a huge question though. I think bio-fuels are still going to have their day in the sun.
By the way, ‘W’ basher Madcapp. The current administration has done more to promote sustainability in constuction and to promote alternative fueled vehicles than any administration in history regardless of party. You don’t have to like him but at least get a clue and try to have a shread of truth when bashing him. You must be smarter than that, after all, you apparently were able to turn on your computer.
07/18, 5:18 AM
posted by:
3cded
Excuse me Mr GMrules but the reason they changed from using hydrogen in airships to helium was because helium is not explosive. Oh and why is it nobody else can spell?
07/18, 8:13 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
The future is a DeLorean which runs on waste.
07/18, 8:40 AM
posted by:
GMrules
What the hell is a Helium Hybrid???
07/18, 8:48 AM
posted by:
Danny Futuro
@ #18 – the current administration HAS to bring sustainability into the limelight, as it is the biggest issue at hand at the moment. Had it been as important to other administrations then you would have seen it then. Politics shouldnt have anything to do with this though, as sustainability and environmental protection is an issue that faces all humans, not just democrats and republicans.
Maximum respect to those who support the progression of sustainable and eco-friendly energy sources, whether they be aweful automakers like Ford or lobbyists in the government.
07/18, 10:37 AM
posted by:
Fatstrat
Bush admin has been an advocate for sustainability in consturction AND in alternative automotive fuels/cars since it’s inception.
Isn’t everything that comes out of a politicians mouth political?
Cant hide your hate.
07/18, 11:21 AM
posted by:
cstoc
#6: The combustion of hydrogen emits water vapor, but unfortunately the heat and pressure of an internal combustion engine along with the nitrogen and oxygen in the air charge, also produces some oxides of nitrogen (NO2 and NO3, or NOx), a smog-producing component. To others: hydrogen is an energy transport media, not an energy source. There are no wells with free hydrogen. Hydrogen must be freed from compounds, which takes more energy than is recovered from burning it. Currently, most commercially available hydrogen is produced from natural gas, so shortages and price fluctuations there will affect hydrogen’s price. Hydrogen power will not be viable until hydrogen can be produced on a commercial scale at a price the market accepts.
07/18, 11:58 AM
posted by:
Kaptain75329
JohnnyBlazE (#20) : Did you even *see* “Back to the Future”? The Fusion Reactor as shown in Parts II & III runs on waste but powers the Time Circuits® and the Flux Capacitorâ„¢ only. The Internal Combustion Engine runs on ordinary Exxon/Mobilâ„¢ gasoline; it always has.
07/18, 8:05 PM
posted by:
Leopold Porkstacker
I was under the impression that hydrogen is just as costly to produce as gasoline… perhaps I was mistaken, since an American car company would neeeevver do something stupid, right GMRules???
-he who stacks pork
07/19, 2:00 AM
posted by:
Tristan
GMrules: You’ve againproven to be inept at coherrent thought. Please stop blindly crying about GM when all their crap in the last 20 odd years has been garbage. GM sucks, and is flawed, and they will thusly die.
07/19, 2:14 AM
posted by:
Fatstrat
Tristan,you are just as wrong as GM rules in the complete opposite direction.