The future of the automobile is going in several directions and one of them is EVs while alternative fuels are also a major talking point. Hydrogen has been in the discussion for a while with several carmakers dabbling with it. For sports car maker Alpine, its radical Alpenglow Hy4 is also not just a concept as it has become a genuine rolling lab designed as a racing car with its carbon monocoque and turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine develops 340 bhp.
Yes, it shows how a racing car can be conjured up with a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine. Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 will also make demonstration runs during the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 14 and 15 June 2024. The specifications are intriguing with a sleek racing silhouette having an enlarged interior to accommodate two seats, and greater height, while retaining the locations of the hydrogen tanks still located in the side pods and behind the cockpit.
The tracks have been widened to 2.10 m for a total width of 2.15 m, a length of 5.20 m, and a height of 1.10 m. The styling is futuristic too with ‘cosmic dust’ light particles in the four front lights and the magenta-coloured dorsal contour. The latter turns blue as it reaches the rear of the prototype, as do the vertical lights next to the vertical titanium exhaust pipes, symbolizing the hydrogen and water vapor that its combustion emits.
The long-tail rear end is also reminiscent of the Alpine A220 racing car of the late 1960s. Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 uses the low, transparent spoiler first seen on the concept car for its hydrogen-powered rolling version. The rear diffuser too has now been redesigned for greater aerodynamic efficiency. Some of the details include bespoke tires produced by Michelin plus carbon bodywork and of course, the centerboard and snorkel are designed in forged carbon, revealing the raw material, like an evocation of the mineral world of the mountains.
As mentioned before, the 340 bhp engine is fuelled by hydrogen (more precisely, H2 dihydrogen) with direct injection at 40 bar pressure and water injection to reduce NOx emissions. It can reach a maximum of 7,000 rpm and is coupled to a sequential racing gearbox with a centrifugal clutch. The performance is comparable to the petrol equivalent, with a top speed of approximately 270 km/h.
To achieve this, hydrogen is injected in gas form, making it more challenging to create a homogeneous mixture than petrol, which is injected in droplet form. Hydrogen can burn at a much more comprehensive range of concentrations, from 4% to 76%, with both lean and rich mixtures. While being a track-only machine, it is a preview of what the future holds for us in terms of performance cars.
