Alpine is considering turning the extreme Alpenglow concept into a limited-edition supercar with a hydrogen combustion engine.
Debuting in 2022, the Alpenglow recently took a step closer to reality as the Hy4—a prototype equipped with Alpine's first hydrogen combustion engine.
It was supposed to make its first public appearance at the recent World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, but an electrical fault prevented it from starting, according to Alpine.
It features a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, distinct from the A110’s setup.
Hydrogen fuel is sourced from three tanks, each holding 2.1kg of gas at 700 bar pressure. This hydrogen is injected into the cylinders at 40 bar pressure along with a water spray to reduce harmful emissions like NOx.
You can read an in-depth review of the advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells here.
The engine can rev up to 7000rpm—200rpm higher than the top-tier A110 R—and transmits up to 335bhp through a sequential gearbox, offering performance on par with traditional petrol engines.
To integrate this technology, Alpine has adjusted the Alpenglow’s proportions compared to the 2022 concept. It now sits slightly higher, with redesigned crash structures to accommodate two occupants, and the hydrogen tanks are now housed in the sidepods.
The car will perform demonstration runs at various high-profile events, contributing to the development of a new hydrogen-powered V6 currently in progress at Alpine.
This engine is expected to replace the existing four-cylinder setup by the end of this year and could power Alpine's entry at the 2027 Le Mans 24 Hours, which will be the first year allowing hydrogen-combustion cars to compete.
Alpine is closely monitoring motorsport regulations and hints that the V6 might also find its way into future road cars. Bruno Famin, vice-president of Alpine Motorsports, emphasised the importance of hydrogen, stating, “As part of our active participation in decarbonising motorsports, we see the hydrogen internal combustion engine as an extremely promising solution.
“We know that hydrogen will be an essential step in decarbonising the next generations of endurance cars and could also be for Formula 1 cars, particularly by switching to liquid storage for greater compactness and performance.
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