All the facts on the dual-energy hydrogen-battery electric powertrain – Renault
A pioneer in electric vehicles, Renault Group sees electric cars as the best solution for decarbonising mobility. To make EVs even more attractive, one of the main challenges is to increase their versatility and range. The aim is for them to be able to complete long journeys in the time taken by an ICE car, without long stopovers for charging. While continuing its research into batteries, Renault Group is also exploring dual-energy hydrogen-battery electric powertrains as a possible solution. Let’s find out more.
Delivering increased range for electric mobility
Electric cars are currently the best solution for low-carbon mobility. This is particularly true for EVs with wound-rotor motors – i.e. without rare earths – the solution adopted by Renault over ten years ago.
Huge progress has been made in recent years concerning the energy density of the batteries used in all electric cars. They are smaller and lighter than before, with greater capacity. But that is still not enough to compete with ICE vehicles in terms of range and journey time. Charging from 15% to 80% still takes between 20 and 30 minutes on a DC fast-charger.
For the moment, increasing vehicle range would require more components and raw materials, making batteries heavier and more costly, while also pushing up CO2 emissions The solution will come in part from innovations in battery chemistry. But that is not the only solution we are looking at.
Hydrogen, a promising carrier of electrical energy
While continuing its research into batteries, Renault Group is exploring the use of hydrogen to power electric motors. This choice of technology combines the advantages of both energy sources, creating a positive synergy.
Odourless, colourless and non-corrosive, hydrogen is a gas that produces electricity when burned in a combustion engine or oxidised in a fuel cell, releasing only water.
Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier with a number of advantages:
- It is available in large quantities
- Proven solutions exist for production, which can also be carbon-free (green hydrogen)
- It can be stored in liquid form or under pressure in dedicated tanks.
- Charging time is short at a hydrogen pump: one kilogram per minute (and even more in the future).
For many years, Renault Group has been conducting research into fuel cells. This technology combines the range of two energy sources – a battery and a hydrogen tank – to deliver an increased vehicle range. This is the solution adopted by HYVIA for new Renault Master H2 Tech. A solution suited to LCVs that can be taken even further for passenger cars.
Dual-energy electricity and hydrogen with a fuel cell
For passenger cars, Renault is working on the development of dual-energy battery-hydrogen technology. The electric motor is powered by electricity stored in a battery and/or created by a hydrogen fuel cell. The key aspect here is that each of the two energy sources has a balanced power delivery that is sufficient to keep the vehicle on the road.
A practical demonstration of this set-up is provided by the recently revealed Renault Emblème demo car presented at the 2024 Paris Motor Show. The electric motor is powered by a conventional 40 kWh rechargeable battery (mainly for everyday journeys) and by a 30 kWh hydrogen fuel cell (for long motorway journeys).
Renault Emblème is able to cover a distance of up to 1,000 km in the same time as an equivalent ICE vehicle. No electric charging is required, just two stops of less than five minutes for hydrogen refuelling. On a typical journey between Paris and Marseille, 75% of the electricity consumed by the vehicle is produced by the fuel cell.
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