WAE Technologies (WAE) introduced an ultra-high performance hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle platform—EVRh—at the CENEX Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) Show.

WAE developed EVRh to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen-powered powertrain systems through implementation in a high-performance vehicle application. EVRh combines WAE’s extensive vehicle and powertrain engineering experience alongside a hydrogen 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. (Earlier post.) Working with partners for the H₂ fuel cell system, paired with WAE’s systems integration and electrification technology, EVRh determines the potential of hydrogen 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 vehicles, in which 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 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 liquid-cooled FCEV battery pack at its core, capable of discharging 430kW of power. Combined with the 120kW hydrogen fuel cell, EVRh has a total output of 550kW, 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 Hydrogen 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.