Ligier Automotive at the H2 Forum in Montbéliard: Hydrogen, a Strategic Focus for Ligier
On October 1, 2024, during the fourth edition of the "Hydrogen Business for Climate" Forum in Montbéliard, organized by the Pôle Véhicule du Futur, Richard Tur, Chief Operating Officer of Ligier Automotive, participated in a panel discussion entitled "Motorsport Speeds Up on Hydrogen”. This event provided an opportunity to reaffirm Ligier Automotive's commitment to developing innovative solutions around hydrogen, a major strategic priority for the French manufacturer and the future of motorsport.
Hydrogen: A priority for Ligier Automotive
At Ligier Automotive, hydrogen is more than just an alternative to fossil fuels; it's a true strategic priority. Aware of today's environmental challenges, Ligier Automotive began developing high-performance hydrogen vehicles in 2022, aiming to meet the demands of motorsport while embracing a sustainable approach.
One of the flagship projects in this area is the Ligier JS2 RH2, developed in collaboration with Bosch Engineering and unveiled at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2023.
Following the Ligier JS2 RH2, Ligier Automotive had the opportunity to work for Alpine on the Alpenglow. In particular, Ligier Automotive worked on the design of the hydrogen circuit, the “hardware”, the storage of hydrogen and its cooling, as well as the integration of these different elements into the LMP3 base.
Evolving hydrogen gas technologies
Since its initial presentation, Bosch Engineering and Ligier Automotive have continued to refine and improve the vehicle.
In total, the car has covered over 5,000 kilometers of intense circuit testing without any issues, which is equivalent to the distance covered by the winning teams at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in recent years. The Ligier JS2 RH2 has repeatedly reached speeds of 280 km/h without irregularities, suggesting a potential top speed of around 300 km/h. Testing and simulations have also confirmed the robustness and performance of the gaseous hydrogen systems in extreme conditions, with temperatures ranging from 0°C to +35°C.
During the 2024 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Ligier JS2 RH2 participated in the first-ever global demonstration lap for hydrogen-powered race cars on Saturday, June 15, 2024, alongside the H24, Alpenglow, and other manufacturers committed to deploying hydrogen in motorsport.
Ligier Automotive, with the support of Bosch Engineering and other strategic suppliers, continues to develop this technology to optimize the integration of hydrogen systems in production and competition vehicles.
Liquid Hydrogen: The Future of Competition in the Making
Since the FIA's February 2024 announcement favoring liquid hydrogen for motorsport, Ligier Automotive has also invested in developing solutions based on liquid hydrogen. This technology offers promising prospects in terms of energy density and refueling times, potentially delivering further performance gains and increased autonomy for racing vehicles.
"There are still some technological hurdles to overcome," explains Richard Tur. "We are working closely with specialists to bring together the expertise needed to tackle this challenge. As an architect, we primarily position ourselves as the integrator of the hydrogen system within the vehicle. Our range of race cars allows us to work with our partners on several hypotheses, using platforms such as sport prototypes (with our LMP3), GT cars with the Ligier JS2 R, and single-seaters (with our Formula 4 and regional formula cars, the Ligier JS F422 and Ligier JS F3)."
A Dedicated New Energy Division
To structure this ambition and ensure rapid progress, Ligier Automotive has established a dedicated division for research and development on hydrogen and new energy solutions.
"Ligier Automotive's commitment to hydrogen technologies reflects our belief that motorsport should not only remain a laboratory for innovation but also be at the forefront of sustainable energy solutions," concludes Richard Tur. "Hydrogen is one of the keys to this transition, and we are determined to be a leading player."
Julien Jehanne, Director of the Amilly site specializing in concept cars, prototypes, and special vehicles, will participate in the Advanced Powertrain Technology session at the PMW Expo in Cologne on November 13, 2024.
For more information on the H2 forum, CLICK HERE.