Conversion of a Small-Size Passenger Car to Hydrogen Fueling: Evaluation of Boosting Potential and Peak Performance During Lean Operation

Adrian Irimescu (), Simona Silvia Merola and Bianca Maria Vaglieco
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Adrian Irimescu: Institute of Science and Technology for Sustainable Energy and Mobility STEMS—CNR, Via G. Marconi 4, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Simona Silvia Merola: Institute of Science and Technology for Sustainable Energy and Mobility STEMS—CNR, Via G. Marconi 4, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Bianca Maria Vaglieco: Institute of Science and Technology for Sustainable Energy and Mobility STEMS—CNR, Via G. Marconi 4, 80125 Napoli, Italy

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Energy and mobility are currently powered by conventional fuels, and for the specific case of spark ignition (SI) engines, gasoline is dominant. Converting these power-units to hydrogen is an efficient and cost-effective choice for achieving zero-carbon emissions. The use of this alternative fuel can be combined with a circular-economy approach that gives new life to the existing fleet of engines and minimizes the need for added components. In this context, the current work scrutinizes specific aspects of converting a small-size passenger car to hydrogen fueling. The approach combined measurements performed with gasoline and predictive 0D/1D models for correctly including fuel chemistry effects; the experimental data were used for calibration purposes. One particular aspect of H 2 is that it results in lower volumetric efficiency compared to gasoline, and therefore boosting requirements can feature significant changes. The results of the 0D/1D simulations show that one of the main conclusions is that only stoichiometric operation would ensure the reference peak power level; lean fueling featured relative air–fuel ratios too low for ensuring the minimum value of 2 that would allow mitigating NO x formation. Top speed could be instead feasible in lean conditions, with the same gearbox, but with an extension of the engine speed operating range to 7000 rpm compared to the 3700 rpm reference point with gasoline.

Keywords: spark ignition engine; small-size passenger car; hydrogen; boosting; ECU remapping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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