According to a news release sent by PR Newswire, Aquarius Engines, located in Israel, has introduced a revolutionary hydrogen engine that it claims may eliminate the world’s need for hydrogen fuel cells and fossil fuels.
The engine, which weighs about 22 pounds (10 kilograms), is a single-piston linear engine that works only on hydrogen. The engine is also considerably cheaper to construct and operate than standard engines because it has just 20 components and one moving element.
Though Aquarius Engines has revealed few details about their new engine, the business claims that the Aquarius Hydrogen Engine’s “lightweight design and innovative internal-gas-exchange-method will dramatically cut emissions and minimize the global carbon footprint.”
The business said that its new hydrogen engine passed a test conducted by the Austrian engineering firm AVL-Schrick, demonstrating that the model indeed runs on hydrogen.
“At Aquarius Engines, it has always been our aim to breathe oxygen into hydrogen technology as the fuel of the future,” stated Gal Fridman, Chairman of Aquarius Engines.
“Based on preliminary testing, it looks that our hydrogen engine, which does not require expensive hydrogen fuel-cells, might be the economical, green, and sustainable solution to the difficulties of global transportation and distant energy generation,” Fridman concluded. “As the globe transitions away from fossil fuels, our innovative hydrogen engine might ring in the Age of Aquarius.”
The argument over electric vs. hydrogen vehicles continues
Indeed, as with many green projects, the financial incentive to go hydrogen is expected to play a significant role and will likely determine whether we finally drive hydrogen cars or electric vehicles on a large scale.
The key selling point of the new Aquarius Hydrogen Engine, with its one moving part, is that it is far less expensive than hydrogen fuel cells. The equipment does not even require oil for maintenance, according to the manufacturer.
Still, it may take more than that for the present trend to shift away from electric vehicles. On Twitter this week, Volkswagen Auto Group CEO Herbert Diess slammed hydrogen automobiles and emphasized that the company supports electrification.
Elon Musk responded quickly, adding, “Diess is right. Hydrogen is a staggeringly dumb form of energy storage for cars. It’s barely worth considering it for a rocket upper stage, which is its most compelling use.”
Diess is right. Hydrogen is a staggeringly dumb form of energy storage for cars. Barely worth considering it for a rocket upper stage, which is its most compelling use.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2021
That’s not to say that lots of firms aren’t looking at hydrogen fuel as a sustainable mode of transportation, such as Segway’s insane Tron-inspired hydrogen-fueled motorbike.
In fact, Aquarius Engines has announced relationships with TPR and Honda-affiliated Musashi Seimitsu. As part of its Green Growth Strategy, Japan is one of the few countries that has placed a large investment in hydrogen.
Aquarius Engines introduced the initial prototype of their 22-pound engine in 2014, although that did not run entirely on hydrogen. It was intended to be used as an onboard power generator in cars or as a fixed power generator.
