The GreenGT H2 is the first prototype electric/hydrogen competition car and was selected in June 2011 by the French Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), as an innovative project. GreenGT was invited to participate on the June 3rd Test Day of the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours event.
As the autonomy of lithium/ion batteries was found to be the improvement with the most potential on GreenGT's previous prototypes, hydrogen very quickly became the preferred option. In 2011, a 100 kW fuel cell that can be mounted in both competition and road cars was developed under GreenGT's guidance. This fuel cell system has been tested and is now operational. Since then, GreenGT has begun the construction of a new high power fuel cell system that provides a linear power of 340kW, or 460Hp.
In parallel, a new lightweight twin-engine powertrain, providing up to 400kW or 540Hp, has been developed for this prototype. Control electronics and telemetry of the last generation will ensure the very best performance of the prototype on the track.
To comply with FIA regulations and safety standards, a specific chassis has been designed. This was built for GreenGT by Gerard Welter & Vincent Soulignac, well known to Le Mans fans, in compliance with the new technical constraints required for GreenGT and its innovative concepts.
The fuel cell contains neither batteries nor fuel ... It is in fact a generator of water and electricity, fed with hydrogen and air. The current focus of fuel cell improvement is their weight, complexity and cost.
Electricity is generated through oxidation on an electrode of a fuel, in this case hydrogen, coupled with the reduction on the other electrode of an oxidant, such as the oxygen contained in the air. This is the reverse of electrolysis. The chemical reaction produced by the oxidation and the meeting of gases produces electricity, water and heat. The operating temperature ranges from 60 to 120°C depending on the model. The water is discharged as steam.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells, also known as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (or PEMFC, which is the acronym for both names) are a type of fuel cell developed for applications in transport as well as for mobile applications. Their specific characteristics include operating at a range of low pressures and temperatures and a specific polymer electrolyte membrane.
Company press release, last updated on January 26, 2012
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The GreenGT H2 is the first prototype electric/hydrogen competition car and was selected in June 2011 by the French Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), as an innovative project. GreenGT was invited to participate on the June 3rd Test Day of the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours event.
