Not Toyota, not Hyundai: This brand unveils the real hydrogen engine with an unexpected detail

In a bold move towards sustainability in the automotive industry, Alpine has introduced its new V6 hydrogen engine. The engine is a groundbreaking development that merges high-performance engineering with eco-friendly technology. This innovative engine represents a significant leap for the French automotive brand, showcasing its commitment to advancing hydrogen as a viable fuel alternative in the world of motorsport and beyond.

Twice as much power: This is the new prototype unveiled by legendary brand

While Japanese automobile company Toyota continues to be leading the hydrogen revolution, other automobile companies are following closely behind.

While some have placed all their bets on electric vehicles being the future of sustainable engines, others are looking at ways to continue producing the internal combustion engine. The answer may be found in hydrogen technology whereby traditional internal combustion engines can be adapted to support the alternative fuel source. Alpine previously introduced a hydrogen powered car in 2022.

Now, the newer model is twice as powerful as the last. The car features a 3.5-litre, twin-turbo V6 engine. It produces a power output of 740bhp, and can reach up to 9,000rpm with 770 Nm of torque.

The two hydrogen engines are located in the sidepods and behind the cockpit. The model has been in the works for two years and is a testament to Alpine's continued dedication towards sustainability.

Alpine to still priorities electric cars

Despite the exciting news, it is likely that hydrogen production may take a bit of a backset for Alpine. The company is currently set to launch 7 new electric models by the end of 2030. "With the development of this brand-new Hy6 V6 engine, we are demonstrating our commitment to hydrogen research, which could herald motorsport applications with high performance levels," says Bruno Famin, VP of Alpine Motorsports.

While hydrogen technology cars may not be rolled out on a large scale yet by Alpine, the prototypes highlight how the company is expanding their green offerings. This is being seen by many other automobile companies, including legendary electric car provider Tesla who has announced their own release of a hydrogen powered vehicle by 2030. As the world moves towards sustainable fuels, it is important that the automobile industry has many green developments in the works.

Hydrogen technology to be the fuel of the future

As global concerns about climate change and environmental impact grow, the automotive industry is under increasing pressure to adopt cleaner technologies.

Traditional internal combustion engines contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, prompting manufacturers to explore alternative fuels. Hydrogen has emerged as a promising solution, offering the potential for zero-emission driving when used in fuel cells or internal combustion engines. Because internal combustion engines can be adapted to support hydrogen, this makes changes in infrastructure slightly easier for automobile countries.

Electric vehicles require completely different engines to their internal combustion counterparts. Currently, the internal combustion engine is not looking to go anywhere anytime soon as these types of engines are still the vast majority on the road. If the automobile industry wants to go green, they also need to consider ways to make sustainability affordable.

Currently, most hybrid and electric vehicles are still considered to be in the luxury car bracket.

Consumers are not going to be on board with sustainability unless they can see it is a viable affordable alternative to current combustion engine cars.

While it may come as a surprise that Alpine is not spearheading with production of the new hydrogen vehicle, it is important to remember that it showcases Alpine's futuristic thinking towards innovative sustainable solutions. "The Alpenglow Hy6 concept is the perfect example of what is possible to achieve the essential step of reducing carbon emissions in motorsport," says Famin.