MEDIA
RELEASE
University
Communications
View RMIT media
releases and
find experts:
rmit.edu.au/newsroom
MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMANS BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
Formula Hydrogen speeding to a world record
The RMIT University team behind Australia’s first hydrogen racing car is
celebrating another milestone, with the clean and green racer reaching a world
record speed for its class in trials recently held in Germany.
The car, which is powered by a two-cylinder internal combustion motorcycle engine
converted to run on hydrogen, reached 133kmh during speed trials held last month
at a military airport in Ingolstadt.
But the team behind the pioneering project is aiming to beat its own record by
pushing the racer beyond 150kmh in further speed trials planned for June.
Professor Aleksandar Subic, Head of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering, said researchers were compiling the initial speed trial
results – independently verified by members of the German military – for an official
submission to the Guinness World Records.
“The trial was held on a bitterly cold day, in minus 7 degree temperatures, which
isn’t ideal as the cold affects both the hydrogen fuel and the aerodynamics due to
the density of air and drag,” Professor Subic said.
“But despite the difficult conditions, the racer still managed to twice reach a top
speed of 133kmh to set a new record for a hydrogen-powered car of its class.
“This is an incredible achievement for a compact and fully sustainable racing car
that emits nothing but water vapour, but we know it can go even faster and the
upcoming speed trials will be our chance to push the racer to its limits.”
A collaboration between RMIT and Germany’s Fachhochschule Ingolstadt
University of Applied Sciences, the Formula Hydrogen project was designed to
produce a demonstration vehicle using cutting-edge sustainable automotive
technologies.
The racing car has been showcased at several European automotive industry
expos over the past year and will return to Melbourne in mid-2010.
The Australian and German teams are now working with Audi on Formula H Mk 2,
in which two Audi TTs will be converted to run on hydrogen, using the internal
combustion redesign concept developed for the original project.
“RMIT will be focusing on developing a novel hydrogen fuel cell system to power all
the vehicle’s auxiliary systems and to reduce the level of pressure required for
hydrogen storage,” Professor Subic said.
“It’s fantastic to have Audi on board, supporting our research and development in
this promising field.”
For media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, David Glanz, (03)
9925 2807 or 0438 547 723.
31 March, 2010
NEWS 
