Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 Unveiled: Prototype With Hydrogen-Powered Internal Combustion Engine

Renault's Alpine brand has revealed the Alpenglow Hy4, a rolling lab designed as a racing car with a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine. The Alpine Alpenglow is designed like a racing car with an LMP3 carbon chassis. 

It will make demonstration runs during the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 14 and 15 June 2024.

Under the model's carbon bonnet is a 2.0-litre in-line 4-cylinder turbocharged development engine delivering 340 bhp (250 kW) fuelled by hydrogen.

The three Alpenglow tanks Hy4 store hydrogen in gas form (2.1 kg each) under high pressure: 700 bars.

They are located in the side pods and aft of the two-seater cockpit.

Dedicated spaces have been integrated for mounting mini action cameras to capture the sound and images of laps around the track.

The hydrogen solution is being considered in various ways throughout the Renault Group, contributing to its carbon neutrality objectives in Europe by 2040 and worldwide by 2050. 

Alpine is gearing up for the launch of seven new electric models between now and 2030, starting this year with the A290.

Bruno Famin, VP Alpine Motorsports, says: "As part of our active participation in decarbonising motorsports, we see the hydrogen internal combustion engine as an extremely promising 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."

Antony Villain, Alpine Design Director, adds: "As part of our active participation in decarbonising motorsports, we see the hydrogen internal combustion engine as an extremely promising 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."

In 2021, Alpine Cars, Renault Sport Cars and Renault Sport Racing join forces under the Alpine flagship.