WAE Technologies (WAE) revealed its latest H₂ fuel cell electric vehicle innovation, at this year’s CENEX low-carbon vehicle (LCV) Show (stand C3-606). The ultra-high performance H₂ fuel cell electric vehicle platform – EVRh – has been developed to demonstrate the potential of H₂-powered powertrain systems through implementation in a high- performance vehicle application. Produced by WAE in Oxfordshire, EVRh combines WAE’s extensive vehicle and powertrain engineering experience alongside a cutting-edge H₂ fuel cell system, in one innovative package, allowing for end users to have zero tailpipe emissions driving.

The launch of EVRh comes exactly one year since the reveal of its fully electric derivative, EVR. EVRh utilizes an H₂ fuel cell system, to produce electricity through a chemical reaction between H₂ and oxygen in a fuel cell stack. Working with partners for the H₂ fuel cell system, paired with WAE’s systems integration and electrification technology, EVRh determines the potential of H₂ powered performance systems, as a parallel-hybrid derivative of its EVR rolling chassis concept.

Featuring a lightweight composite structure, the high-performance H₂ fuel tank and battery system are situated in the middle of the vehicle, optimizing center of gravity. The platform’s design flexibility enables manufacturers to create multiple configurations from track-only vehicle, where power-to-weight is maximized, to roadgoing models of both open-roof Targa and fixed-roof GT style. This is made possible by the architecture’s central tub which has been designed from day one to allow for such flexibility—including open roof design—while still featuring the very latest performance technology such as active aerodynamics.

The powertrain has a state-of-art liquid-cooled FCEV battery pack at its core, capable of discharging 430 kW of power. Combined with the 120-kW H₂ fuel cell, EVRh has a total output of 550 kW, enabling sub-2.5secs 0-100km/h acceleration and an estimated lap time of the Nürburgring in under 7mins 20secs. All-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive layouts are supported through multiple e-motor configurations.

The H₂ hybrid powertrain also brings multiple benefits to manufacturers, enabling an accelerated route to market, with the entire engineering and assembly completed by WAE, significantly reducing time and cost from development to market launch. Similarly, both OEMs and Tier 1s have the chance to incorporate new products into the powertrain using EVRh, since the rolling chassis can undergo continuous enhancements by leveraging WAE’s latest motor and battery technologies.

Paul McNamara, Technical Director for WAE Technologies, said, “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.”