Ford displayed a prototype Ford Focus C-max burning hydrogen at a German car conference. This is not a fuel cell vehicle—it is an internal combustion engine (ICE) car that burns H₂. Ford developed the car at its Aachen Research Center in Germany. (Ford is also working on fuel cell vehicles.)

Ford (at least, Ford Germany) views the H₂ ICE as an important medium-term bridge technology to fuel cells, especially because increased demand for hydrogen in ICE would accelerate the buildout of the hydrogen infrastructure for fueling while necessary R&D on fuel cells continues.

BMW is also taking the H₂ ICE approach. (Earlier post.)

The Ford Focus H₂ ICE engine is based on the familiar 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit and supercharged so that it offers similar performance levels.

The car stores hydrogen at high pressure in three separate tanks - two behind the rear seats and one under the floor. A regulator on the engine reduces the gas pressure from 350 bar to 5.5 bar at the intake manifold. Currently the car has a range of 125 miles.