Development of a liquid hydrogen car

Abstract Due to stricter emission control standards and the higher cost of fossil fuels, hydrogen is considered to be of great promise as a future automotive fuel. However, the problem of on-board storage has yet to be solved. At present, storage of the hydrogen as a liquid is the only method in practice. In order to participate in the SEED Rally held in the U.S.A. in 1975, a Datsun B-210 passenger car with a 1.4 liter engine was converted to a hydrogen fueled car using the liquid storage method. This was accomplished within the short space of 4 months. Since the car had to travel at least 650 km (400 miles) between fuelings, it was equipped with a tank which could contain 230 l (61 gal) of liquid hydrogen at 5 atm. gage (71 psig). Because cooler hydrogen gas induces better engine performance, the fuel line from the rear tank to the front engine was a vacuum insulated pipe. Fuel was injected intermittently into the intake port by a mechanical valve. This car successfully completed the Rally, 2800 km (1730 miles), and proved that the liquid hydrogen car has a bright future with regard to energy economy, performance, emissions, and safety.