Engineers at Austria-based AVL RACETECH are in the race to develop a high performance, zero-emissions hydrogen combustion engine for motorsports applications. A prototype hydrogen-powered, 2 liter turbo engine developed in cooperation with the Hungarian HUMDA Lab has been testbed-demonstrated to achieve 410 hp (301.7 kW) with an engine speed of 6,500 rpm.

The key to elevating the hydrogen engine’s performance is an intelligent port fuel injection water injection system. This system serves to boost water into the engine's intake air, eliminate the potential for premature ignition and lower the air-fuel ratio from a lean burn to a stoichiometric level. A wastegate turbocharging system supplies the air.

The design addresses operating issues associated with lean burn conditions, enabling the hydrogen engine to deliver 500 Newton-meters of torque between 3,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm along with a specific power density of approximately 205 hp/l (150 kW/l).

A consistent output of roughly 201 hp/l (150 kW/l) would make the engine competitive in modern close-to-production race classes. The next research phase will focus on integrating the hydrogen turbo engine into a race car to evaluate its real-world performance.