Le Mans 24H: The Ligier JS2 RH2 with hydrogen engine shows the sustainable future of motorsport
- Race-level performance: Ligier JS2 RH2 masters high-speed tests at top speeds of over 280 km/h.
- Robustness and continuous performance of the hydrogen systems were ensured over a Le Mans race distance of more than 5,000 kilometres.
- Both companies launch first concept studies on liquid hydrogen storage for future motorsport projects.
- The Ligier JS2 RH2 will participate to the world premiere demo lap reserved for hydrogen-powered racing cars on Saturday June 15, 2024, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- The Ligier JS2 RH2 will be exhibited for the entire Le Mans 24H week in the H2 Village.
Abstatt, Germany; Magny-Cours, France – To drive clean energy technologies and sustainability in motorsport, Bosch Engineering and Ligier Automotive have taken their hydrogen-powered demonstrator vehicle to the next level. In recent months, intensive tests have been carried out to test the engine and the entire vehicle for robustness and endurance performance and to further optimize the drive concept. The development and engineering of hydrogen drives for motor sports enable us to bring particularly demanding technologies to the racetrack at an early stage, which can also have road reference. "This gives us an innovative edge in future hydrogen projects, both in motorsport and for high-performance sports cars," says Dr. Johannes-Jörg Rüger, President Bosch Engineering GmbH.
Performance at race level
In recent months, Bosch Engineering and Ligier Automotive have further modified the vehicle. By systematic application, a high power of 443 kW, a torque of 650 Nm and an excellent transient response of the 3.0-l biturbo hydrogen engine could be achieved. In addition, the robustness and long-term performance of the hydrogen systems under extreme operating conditions and at outside temperatures from 0° to +35°C were ensured by extensive tests and simulations. As part of the high-speed tests, the vehicle repeatedly reached a top speed of over 280 km/h without irregularities and thus the potential for a top speed close to
300 km/h. Overall, the vehicle completed more than 5,000 test kilometers on the racetrack under high loads without any special abnormalities. This roughly corresponds to the race distance covered by the winning teams at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in recent years.
“The results show that our hydrogen concept could meet the extreme requirements of a long-distance race and provide an excellent development basis for future use in racing cars and high-performance sports cars,” says Rüger. The experience gained with the Ligier JS2 RH2, for example in the design of the high-pressure tanks and the complex hydrogen safety concept with active and passive measures, is incorporated into future customer projects of both companies.
Liquid hydrogen – first concept studies
Currently, the storage concept for hydrogen for mobile applications is mainly considered to be gaseous hydrogen, which is stored in the vehicle under high pressure up to 700 bar. Due to the higher storage density, liquid hydrogen could also offer an alternative storage option in the long term. Bosch Engineering and Ligier Automotive are currently expanding their development expertise with this technology. Both companies have already produced their initial concept studies to integrate liquid hydrogen systems in vehicles.
In the development of the Ligier JS2 RH2, Bosch Engineering was responsible for the overall vehicle design and significantly implemented the development of the engine and tank concept as well as a comprehensive multi-stage hydrogen safety system. Ligier Automotive was responsible for the global vehicle dynamic performance, the design of the monocoque, including all the chassis adaptation of its existing Ligier JS2 R and the complete car cooling system. They also optimized the mechanical components for use with hydrogen and led their overall integration into the new vehicle.
World premiere at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
After being publicly revealed last year during the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Ligier JS2 RH2 was exhibited in the Hydrogen village dedicated to this new energy sector.
This June, the Ligier JS2 RH2 will be showcased on track this time during the world premiere demo lap reserved for hydrogen-powered racing cars on Saturday June 15, 2024, just a few hours before the start of the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It will run along the H24, MissionH24's hydrogen electric racing prototype and other manufacturers committed to the deployment of hydrogen into motorsport.
"We are very proud to be part of the first manufacturers to see their hydrogen-powered car run on the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans track,” comments Jacques Nicolet, President of Ligier Automotive. “We are fully focused on integrating new energies into the automotive industry and this demonstration lap shows that motorsport is an incredible research laboratory to develop and test new technologies.”
The Ligier JS2 RH2 will be displayed for the entire Le Mans 24H week in the Hydrogen village.
Contact persons for press inquiries:
Bosch Engineering Ligier Automotive
Cornelia Dürr Elsa Nicolet
Telefon: +49 7062 911-1986 Telefon: + 33 (0) 6 16 36 77 30
E-mail: Cornelia.Duerr@de.bosch.com E-mail: e.nicolet@ligierautomotive.com
About Ligier Automotive
Ligier Automotive is a manufacturer based in France (Magny-Cours, Amilly) and in the US with Ligier Automotive North America (Denver, North Carolina) with around 100 associates. It offers one of the largest range of cars marketed under the same brand: from sports prototypes (Ligier JS P4, Ligier JS P3, Ligier JS P320, Ligier JS P2, Ligier JS P217, Ligier Nissan DPi), to single-seaters (Ligier JS F3, Ligier JS F4 and Ligier JS F422) and GT with the Ligier JS2 R. Since 2014, it built around 580 racing cars. Ligier Automotive is the first and unique car constructor since Ferrari in 1998 to have won the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans the same year and the only French car constructor to have won the 24 Hours of Daytona. Ligier Automotive is also the preferred partner of major OEM vehicles manufacturers to design and produce their concept cars and special vehicles.
Additional information may be accessed on www.ligierautomotive.com/en/
About Bosch Engineering GmbH
Bosch Engineering GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH and is head-quartered in Abstatt, Germany. As a systems development partner to the automotive industry since 1999, the company with its more than 3,300 associates offers development services for powertrains, safety and convenience systems, and electrical and electronic systems – from the original concept to series production. Specialized in electronics and software, it draws on Bosch's proven large-scale series production technology to develop tailored solutions for a wide variety of applications in passenger cars, commercial vehicles, off-highway and recreational vehicles, and in rail applications, ships, and industry. Bosch Engineering GmbH also coordinates all the Bosch Group's motorsports activities.
Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch-engineering.com.
Mobility is the largest Bosch Group business sector. In 2023, its sales came to 56.2 billion euros, or just under 60 percent of total Group sales. This makes the Bosch Group one of the leading mobility suppliers. Bosch Mobility pursues a vision of mobility that is safe, sustainable, and exciting. For its customers, the outcome is integrated mobility solutions. The business sector's main areas of activity are electrification, software and services, semiconductors and sensors, vehicle computers, advanced driver assistance systems, systems for vehicle dynamics control, repair-shop concepts, as well as technology and services for the automotive aftermarket. Bosch is synonymous with important automotive innovations, such as electronic engine management, the ESP anti-skid system, and common-rail diesel technology.
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 429,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2023). The company generated sales of 91.6 billion euros in 2023. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. With its business activities, the company aims to use technology to help shape universal trends such as automation, electrification, digitalization, connectivity, and an orientation to sustainability. In this context, Bosch's broad diversification across regions and industries strengthens its innovativeness and robustness. Bosch uses its proven expertise in sensor technology, software, and services to offer customers cross-domain solutions from a single source. It also applies its expertise in connectivity and artificial intelligence in order to develop and manufacture user-friendly, sustainable products. With technology that is “Invented for life,” Bosch wants to help improve quality of life and conserve natural resources. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 470 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch's global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. Bosch's innovative strength is key to the company's further development. At 136 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 90,000 associates in research and development, of which nearly 48,000 are software engineers.
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