Electric racer set for Le Mans

[landman]

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=257694

The Automobile Club de L'Ouest (ACO) has invited GreenGT to race its GreenGT LMP H2 in next year’s Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race.

Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity to power an electric motor with 134bhp, although the power will be increased to 402bhp in 2012 when the racer begins competing.

The car will hold 12kg of hydrogen in 700 bar high-pressure tanks. “When it feeds a fuel cell, it combines with the ambient oxygen to produce electricity and only steam is released to the atmosphere. Thus racing with hydrogen can be fully carbon neutral,” Green GT said.

“The unique and patented GreenGT drive train, which is capable of torque vectoring, will see a Le Mans evolution from a technical standpoint,” the firm added.

[Nordic]

Good that ACO is keeping its long tradition of fostering new ideas and leading the way in future motive power, but its a big step and I doubt it will be on track next year for the race, but maybe it will appear at the test day?

Just hope the Hydrogen tank is strong one!

[SpriteII]

"Thus racing with hydrogen can be fully carbon neutral,”

That's bollocks for a start, I wonder how their hydrogen was made (other than in the big bang of course).

If they can guarantee it was created from biomass energy or a windmill then I'll eat humble pie.

[Steve Pyro]

Will they be carrying additional ballast to make up for the lift from the hydrogen?  Another Hindenburg?