Ready for the Hydrogen 500?

We won't blame you if you think hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles should be made ready for the road before the racetrack. Peter M. DeLorenzo envisions just the opposite. The advertising executive-cum-industry blogger is the mastermind behind the Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation (HERF), which aims to put on the most technologically advanced race in the world with the Hydrogen 500 - on schedule for May 2009. The event will pit specially-built hydrogen fuel cell-powered race cars against each other in a race not only for glory, but for technological advancement. According to DeLorenzo, automobile racing's role as a conduit for transferring cutting edge technology to production vehicles has waned in recent decades. The Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation looks to change this trend by inspiring automakers to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology in a competitive arena.

 

In a recent presentation to auto industry executives, the Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation announced the set of specifications to which HERF racers will have to comply. The fuel cell race cars will be closed-wheel and roughly the size of current sports car prototype racers. Key specifications include a 900 kg pound minimum weight, a 400 horsepower minimum, and fuel limited to 8 kg of on-board gaseous hydrogen stored at 10,000 psi. HERF projects lap speeds will be as high as 185 mph - impressive by any standard. Our take: We'll happily get used to the whine of air compressors and electric motors barreling down the track if it means fuel cell vehicles come to market faster.