WAE Technologies unveils high-performance hydrogen fuel cell EV platform
September 6, 2023
WAE Technologies (WAE), located in Oxfordshire, UK, has launched its latest hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle innovation at this year’s CENEX Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) Show. The ultra-high-performance hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle platform, EVRh, has been developed to showcase the potential of hydrogen (H2) powered powertrain systems in high-performance vehicle applications. EVRh combines WAE’s extensive vehicle and powertrain engineering experience with an H2 fuel cell system, resulting in zero tailpipe emissions driving for end-users.
The launch of EVRh comes exactly one year after the reveal of its fully electric derivative, EVR. EVRh utilises a hydrogen fuel cell system to produce electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell stack. Working with partners for the H2 fuel cell system and paired with WAE’s systems integration and electrification technology, EVRh determines the potential of hydrogen-powered performance systems as a parallel hybrid of its EVR rolling chassis concept.
Featuring a lightweight composite structure, the high-performance H2 fuel tank and battery system is situated in the middle of the vehicle, optimising the centre of gravity. The platform’s design flexibility is said to enable manufacturers to create multiple configurations, from track-only vehicles with maximised power-to-weight ratios to road-going models of both open-roof Targa and fixed-roof GT styles. This is made possible thanks to the architecture’s central tub, which has been intentionally designed to allow for such flexibility – including open roof design – while still featuring the latest performance technology such as active aerodynamics.
The powertrain of this vehicle features a state-of-the-art liquid-cooled FCEV battery pack at its core. EVRh can discharge 430kW of power and has a 120kW charge power, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in under 2.5 seconds, with an estimated lap time of the Nürburgring in under 7 minutes and 20 seconds. Multiple e-motor configurations support both all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive layouts.
The hydrogen hybrid powertrain offers several advantages to manufacturers by providing an accelerated route to market. The entire engineering and assembly is completed by WAE, reducing the time and cost of development from concept to market launch.
Similarly, both OEMs and Tier 1s have the opportunity to integrate new products into the powertrain using EVRh. The rolling chassis can receive continuous enhancements by leveraging WAE’s latest motor and battery technologies.
Paul McNamara, Technical Director for WAE Technologies, shared, “Since its inception in 2010, WAE has been dedicated to innovating cutting-edge and transformative technologies across a variety of applications and industries. EVRh, on display at CENEX LCV for the first time, is another key example of WAE’s capabilities in the development of solutions for zero-carbon vehicles, enabling state-of-the-art FCEV vehicles to be brought to market rapidly and cost effectively.”
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