Mission H24 Unveils Electric-Hydrogen Prototype H24EVO Ahead of Le Mans 24 Hours
In a significant development for the FIA WEC (FIA World Endurance Championship), Mission H24 co-presidents Pierre Fillon and Jean-Michel Bouresche have unveiled the electric-hydrogen prototype H24EVO ahead of the 92nd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This move marks a crucial step towards the adoption of hydrogen fuel in endurance racing.
Following the initial plans announced in October 2023, a physical mock-up of the H24EVO was showcased in the Hydrogen Village during the race week of the Le Mans 24 Hours. The sleek endurance prototype boasts a blue and white livery, building upon the initial sketches unveiled last year.
“The H24 was a landmark car in the MissionH24 program, being the first electric hydrogen prototype to compete in endurance racing, in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, with a strong finish at each of its engagements. The H24EVO marks a new stage for MissionH24: fielding a hydrogen-electric prototype capable of competing alongside conventional combustion-powered cars. Hydrogen won’t be on the track, it’ll be competing on it.”
- Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and co-president of MissionH24
Jean-Michel Bouresche, CEO of H24Project and co-president of MissionH24, outlined the project’s ambitious goals:
“Our aim is to make the H24EVO the 1st FIA homologated electric-hydrogen prototype, with a level of performance equivalent to the best GT3s. To achieve this, we need to integrate the latest technologies, in particular to provide the necessary power.”
The H24EVO boasts an impressive technical specification, weighing in at 1300 kg and utilizing an Adess LMP chassis with two hydrogen gas tanks at 700 bar, each weighing 7.8 kg. The powertrain consists of a 400 Kilowatt (kW) lithium battery, an 872 horsepower electric motor, and a Symbio fuel set with a net output of 300 kW.
The next step in the project will focus on assembling the power unit and conducting bench-testing with the powertrain components from October 2024. With the WEC 2024 season on the horizon, the H24EVO could potentially make its competitive debut in the near future, adding an exciting new dimension to the world of endurance racing.
Credit: Alexis Goure ACO
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