The United States falls behind other nations in promoting hydrogen technologies

Hydrogen possesses the capability to fuel internal combustion engines, which includes vehicles and equipment for both on-road and off-road applications, as well as substantial marine engines. Even with its ability to diminish climate-altering emissions, such as carbon dioxide and harmful pollutants, hydrogen has remained largely untapped in the United States.

With the initiation of the Hydrogen Engine Alliance of North America, or H2EA-NA, officials from the University of Michigan and University of California, Riverside, along with various industry collaborators, are striving to change this narrative. This alliance seeks to advocate for hydrogen as a feasible alternative fuel that can enhance internal combustion engine, or ICE, vehicles while also facilitating the shift to electric and other zero-emission technologies.

“Implementing hydrogen in internal combustion engines presents a low-carbon, sustainable solution for transportation, especially in situations where battery electric or fuel cell vehicles might not satisfy consumer performance needs,” stated André Boehman, the U-M Vennema Professor of Engineering, who is also a mechanical engineering professor and director of the Walter E. Lay Automotive Engineering Laboratory.

A recent demonstration of hydrogen ICE technology conducted by Southwest Research Institute in a heavy-duty truck exhibited extremely low emissions of nitrogen oxides, or NOx, which react with other pollutants in the atmosphere to generate lung-irritating ozone. The levels of NOx were significantly lower than those generated by conventional diesel-powered trucks, underscoring hydrogen’s potential to contribute to substantial reductions in emissions associated with transportation.

Boehman will serve as a co-director of H2EA-NA in collaboration with Georgios Karavalakis, a professor of chemical and environmental engineering at UCR. Karavalakis focuses his research on combustion engines, low- and zero-carbon fuels, and transportation emissions, whereas Boehman’s expertise lies in alternative fuels, fuel production, and the thermodynamics of energy conversion systems.

“Hydrogen represents a potent fuel choice when utilized in internal combustion engines and provides a viable route toward a cleaner energy future,” remarked principal investigator Wayne Miller, a founding scientist in the alliance whose knowledge encompasses zero-carbon fuels, transportation emissions, and marine systems.

Boehman expressed that the alliance will highlight the benefits of hydrogen-fueled ICE vehicles.

“By encouraging innovation and partnership across different fields, H2EA-NA will ensure that ICEs play a significant role in North America’s hydrogen ecosystem and transportation objectives,” he noted.

H2EA-NA aims to assist the U.S. in catching up with nations like China, Germany, and Japan, which are leading in hydrogen fuel innovation. For instance, Germany established the Allianz Wasserstoffmotor in 2021, while the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, founded a year prior, shares similar functions with H2EA-NA.

“The United States possesses vast potential to spearhead hydrogen fuel innovation, but significant obstacles in infrastructure, policy, and public awareness have hindered progress,” Karavalakis stated. “While the technologies are available, their complexity and reliance on costly raw materials render them expensive.”

To facilitate collaboration and education, H2EA-NA plans to organize the 2025 Hydrogen Engine Alliance Conference on May 1-2, 2025, at the California Air Resources Board headquarters in Riverside, California.

The event will include a networking dinner on May 1, giving attendees the chance to engage with industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers. The comprehensive conference on May 2 will feature discussions on advancements in hydrogen engine technology, strategies for emissions reduction, infrastructure development, and vital policy initiatives essential for the progress of the hydrogen ecosystem.

Funding for H2EA-NA will come from annual membership dues contributed by participating companies, with the funds allocated to the nonprofit U.C. Riverside Foundation. The fees will be divided equally between UCR and U-M to support the operational activities of the alliance.

By uniting leaders from the automotive, energy, and government sectors, H2EA-NA aspires to educate the public about the potential of hydrogen in the U.S. and to cultivate backing for the development of hydrogen infrastructure. Additional founding members of the alliance consist of industry partners skilled in creating efficient engines designed to run on hydrogen.

Membership offers access to the newest technologies, market insights, and developing industry standards. For further details or to inquire about membership, please visit the H2EA-NA website.