The Hydrogen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
The big mancelle week has just come to a close, with an intense and breathtaking edition right up to the final laps. Despite the tricky weather, spectators enjoyed the show on track. In the Hydrogen Village, they were able to familiarize themselves with the future of endurance racing: hydrogen. This technology, unprecedented in motorsport, is already a reality.
The 2024 edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours was a landmark for hydrogen, a strategy pursued by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest in collaboration with H24Project to decarbonize motor racing and mobility in general. In the village dedicated to this technology, a veritable H2 paddock was created, with TotalEnergies' mobile H2 station at its heart.
For the first time, H2 prototypes were refuelled in public.
The H24 from MissionH24, the Alpenglow Hy4 from Alpine, the Ligier Bosch JS2 RH2 and the Foenix from GCK subsidiary Solution F were all able to take to the legendary Sarthe circuit. Over a distance of more than 13 kilometers, the Zero CO2 Emission competition presented itself to the audience. A special passenger Zinédine Zidane took part in this demonstration with Alpine, in the Alpenglow Hy4. Enthusiastically, the "golden ball" also posed in front of the H24, on the grid, a few minutes before the start.
In the Hydrogen Village, more than 20 exhibitors shared their research and knowledge on the subject with the public.
ENSOSP, SDIS72, Ariane Group, Symbio, OPmobility surrounded the new H24EVO. The University of Le Mans, France Hydrogène, Maison de l'Europe and Technifutur were all on hand to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen, as were Discoverhy, the first H2 racing car for children, and Horizon Educational. Toyota developed its hydrogen strategy. There's nothing like a film to make you realize...
H24 leads the way for the Hydrogen Parade
June 15 was a milestone for the H24, the first electric hydrogen racing car in the MissionH24 program run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and H24Project. The H24 opened an unprecedented hydrogen parade, before welcoming the official visit of starter Zinédine Zidane to the starting grid for a legendary photo, and completing its final lap of honor at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
A historic day for hydrogen at Le Mans on June 15. Shortly after 9 a.m., the tuk tuk H2 from start-up Systemics completed a range test on the Alain Prost karting circuit. This particular vehicle completed 24 hours of driving, using 2 kilograms of hydrogen and covering a total of over 700 km.
Shortly after midday, an unprecedented demonstration took place on the main circuit of the 24 Heures du Mans, with 4 hydrogen prototypes: the H24 from MissionH24, the Ligier Bosch JS2 RH2, the Foenix from Solution F, a subsidiary of GCK, and the Alpenglow Hy4 from Alpine. The latter carried a special passenger, Zinédine Zidane.
The parade demonstrated the concrete deployment of hydrogen in endurance racing. All these cars are now on display in the Village Hydrogène.
Finally, a few minutes before the start of the 92nd edition of the Manche classic, the H24, with Stéphane Richelmi at the wheel, completed a lap of honor, equipped with the latest evolution of Michelin 71% tires (these tires are made from 71% sustainable materials). This lap of honor was like a bow to the world.
The H24EVO is revealed at the Hydrogen Village!
There was some excitement this June 12 in the Hydrogen Village. Officially inaugurated by Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, it was the setting for the reveal of the all-new H24EVO. Presented a few months ago in the form of drawings, the future hydrogen electric prototype of MissionH24, a collaborative program between the ACO and H24Project, was revealed this time on scale 1.
If the drawings had been promising, the revealed model testifies to the audacity of MissionH24.
"Our goal is to have the first hydrogen racing car approved by the FIA and with performances similar to the best GT3'' announces Jean-Michel Bouresche, co-president of MissionH24.
The public can now observe this H24 at the Hydrogène village which counts an H2 paddock, a mobile H2 station and numerous fun and educational activities.
The H24EVO is unveiled!
Le Mans, June 12th 2024
Presented in sketch form last October in Boulogne Billancourt, on the premises of the Amaury group, the H24EVO is now on display in the Hydrogen Village at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Pierre Fillon and Jean-Michel Bouresche, co-presidents of MissionH24 and partners in the program, today revealed the model of the brand-new electric hydrogen prototype.
In October, the drawings of the H24EVO had been noticed. “Futuristic”, “spectacular”, “new era” - these were the reactions provoked when the first sketches of the MissionH24 program's brand-new hydrogen electric prototype were unveiled at a conference organized at the Amaury group's premises in Boulogne-Billancourt.
On June 12, in Le Mans' Village Hydrogène, expectations were high: would the scale 1 version match the boldness of the model presentation?
When Pierre Fillon, Jean-Michel Bouresche, the drivers, Stéphane Richelmi, Adrien Tambay, and technical director Bassel Aslan discovered the prototype protected from prying eyes by a dark cover, the audience automatically approached the illuminated space reserved for this pioneering racing car.
The lines are revolutionary and sleek. Built for pure performance, for zero-emission hydrogen-powered competition, the H24EVO made an impact.
Well supported by its partners, TotalEnergies, Symbio, Michelin, OPmobility, Dietsmann and Richard Mille, the H24EVO is made up of components designed for performance and competition. Fuel cell and even Symbio fuel cell system, OPmobility tanks, engine, Michelin tires adapted to the hydrogen technology: everything has been optimized and designed to perform with the H24EVO, powered by hydrogen from the TotalEnergies mobile H2 station.
On both the H24 and the LMPH2G, the key components were available in more conventional versions.
The next major milestone for the H24EVO is its maiden run in 2025, during the first quarter of the year.
Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and co-president of MissionH24:
"The H24 was a landmark car in the MissionH24 program, as it was the first electric hydrogen prototype to compete in endurance racing, in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, linking the finish line 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."
Jean-Michel Bouresche, CEO of H24Project and co-president of MissionH24:
"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. I'd like to take this opportunity to salute Symbio's strong commitment to the H24EVO program."
- TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS -
H24EVO
Symbio fuel cell
New-generation multi-stacks
300 KW net
2 hydrogen gas tanks at 700 bar
7.8 kg H2
872 HP electric motor
Adess LMP chassis 1300 kg
400 KW lithium battery
Systemics: 24 Hours = 2 kg of H2
It is this equation with several unknowns that the French start-up Systemics will attempt to resolve during the week of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024. A specialist in soft mobility, the entity wishes to validate this autonomy: driving for 24 hours, with 2 kg of 'H2 (hydrogen) in the tanks of a tuk tuk. The start will be given in 24 hours, Sunday June 9, at 8 p.m.
The unique initiative aims to promote hydrogen as an energy vector for more environmentally friendly mobility. Systemics, a French start-up initiated by Antoine Abou, is taking on this challenge: driving for 24 hours with a full tank of 2 kg of Hydrogen in the tanks of its vehicle, a tuk tuk. The chosen location is symbolic: Le Mans, the Alain Prost karting circuit; The date as well, since this attempt will take place as part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans week.
Indeed, the experience will take place in two stages, June 9 and June 14, in 12-hour sequences, on the famous Le Mans karting track.
- On June 9, meet at 8 p.m. for the launch of this pioneering experience. On June 10, shortly after 8 a.m., the tuk tuk will stop to reach the H2 village, within the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, to be exposed to spectators. The team will thus be able to share the lessons learned from this first part of the challenge.
- Friday June 14, from 9 p.m., she will return to the Alain Prost karting track to complete her challenge, with success she hopes, on Saturday at 9 a.m., a few hours before the start of the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Among the drivers in the tuk tuk cabin, we could recognize the pilots of MissionH24, a collaborative program between the ACO and H24Project for the creation of an H2 category in endurance, or even elements of the Sarthe Departmental Fire and Safety Service, concerned by the deployment of hydrogen.