Alpine reveals 340PS hydrogen‑powered sports prototype

Powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine, the Alpenglow's purposeful body hides three tanks behind the cockpit and in its side pods that store 2.1kg of hydrogen at a pressure of 700 bars, which is then lowered to 200 and 40 bars by a pressure regulator before the gas is injected directly into the cylinders. Injecting gas presents its own problems; it is much harder to produce a homogenous mixture than petrol droplets. Alpine also has to spray water into the cylinder to avoid producing NOx emissions. 

Why use hydrogen? Because it produces negligible CO2, no soot, CO or unburnt hydrocarbons, and NOx emissions can be reduced to levels unattainable for fossil fuel engines.

Complexity aside, Alpine claims its Alpenglow can match the performance of a petrol equivalent, as the car's 7,000rpm rev limit and 168mph top speed confirm. The engine is mated to a centrifugal clutch and a sequential gearbox.  

Safety was also high on the agenda, with valves fitted that could evacuate the hydrogen in seconds in the event of a fire. The cabin is also equipped with hydrogen sensors, and a colour-coded alert system measures the seriousness of the fault.

Based on the Alpenglow Concept featured at 2022's Paris motor show, the prototype has an enlarged crashbox and a bigger interior to free up room for two seats. It's strikingly similar to the Alpine A424 that competed in the Hypercar category of the World Endurance Championship. 

Carbon-fibre is used for the body and chassis, which is hinted at by the car's bare carbon roof snorkel and centreboard. Air passes over the car's low front splitter, over the windscreen, and tapers in behind the water-droplet-like cabin before it passes over the Alpine A220-aping wing at the back. Throw in a couple of NACA ducts tasked with cooling the oil and water radiators, and you have a car that looks entirely track-ready.

Access is made through elytra-shaped (split beetle-shell) door openings that free up as much space as possible. Once inside, you're greeted with a cabin awash with carbon-fibre, aluminium and Alcantara.

Antony Villain, Alpine Design Director, said: "As part of our active participation in decarbonising motorsports, we see the hydrogen internal combustion engine as an up-and-coming solution. We know that hydrogen will be an essential step in decarbonising the next generations of Endurance cars and could also be for Formula 1 cars, particularly by switching to liquid storage for greater compactness and performance. The Alpenglow prototype perfectly illustrates this, a genuine technological laboratory for developing tomorrow's hydrogen engines."

"Ever since the creation of the Alpine Alpenglow concept car presented in Paris in 2022, we have looked forward to fulfilling the promise made with such a unique object: taking it out on the track. This is now a reality. The Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 can now demonstrate all the performance suggested visually by the original concept car: a true racing car with all the visual and acoustic expression you would expect."