Aston Martin Rapide S Hybrid Hydrogen
Aston Martin is the first carmaker to make a hydrogen-powered racecar capable of achieving zeo CO2 emissions under racing conditions.
The Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S is built around the basics of the four-door Aston martin Rapide S road car, and the plan is to have it be the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in this year’s Nurburgring 24-hour race.
Aston Martin engineers worked with hydrogen experts Alset Global to develop a prototype twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 engine capable of running on pure petrol, pure hydrogen, as well as a blend of both, for their Rapide S racer.
There are very strict safety standards when working with hydrogen systems and storage, so the car comes with ultra-high-strength carbonfibre tanks – two are next to the driver and two in the boot – holding a total of 3.5 kilograms of hydrogen stored at a pressure of 350 bar.
The Hybrid Hydrogen system from Aston Martin has already been approved by Germany’s motor racing governing body, so the vehicle can line up at the start of this year’s ADAC Zurich Nurburgring 24 Hours race which will be taking place in May 19-20.
In preparation for this massive experiment, the prototype was taken to Nordscheife for a testing session.
On April 27th, Aston Martin wrote a tiny piece of history, as the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S became the first ever, hydrogen-fueled model to lap the 24 kilometer Nordschleife circuit in Germany with a total of zero CO2 emissions.
This is just a confirmation that the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S will definitely become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international event, as well as the first zero CO2 emissions car to take part in the Nurburgring 24-hour race. The car will go through a series of rigorous technical and safety tests and then will compete in the experimental class E1-XP.
