Recently, the demonstration of real-vehicle operation for hydrogen internal combustion engines, organized by China Automotive Technology & Research Center Co., Ltd. (Tianjin), officially kicked off in Tianjin. At the event, Weichai’s 13L and 8L hydrogen internal combustion engines made a stunning debut. Unlike the intake manifold injection hydrogen internal combustion engines previously showcased in China, Weichai’s 8L hydrogen engine is the country’s first heavy-duty commercial in-cylinder direct injection hydrogen internal combustion engine, marking a significant step forward in clean energy utilization and environmentally friendly power technologies for Weichai.
Hydrogen energy, as an ideal alternative energy source with high efficiency and zero carbon emissions, demonstrates tremendous potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen internal combustion engines not only meet emission reduction targets but also achieve cost parity with traditional internal combustion engines, offering lower technical hurdles and more controllable investment costs. This makes them an effective solution for energy-saving and emission reduction in the transportation sector.
Weichai’s showcased 13L hydrogen internal combustion engine is an intake manifold injection engine that successfully ignited in September 2021. In June 2022, Sinotruk and Weichai Power jointly launched China’s first commercial hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck, equipped with the 13L hydrogen engine. This engine delivers 290kW of power and a maximum torque of 2,000N·m. It solves backfire issues through coordinated control of injection parameters, valve timing, and ignition timing. The engine employs high-efficiency turbocharging and lean-burn technologies to address abnormal hydrogen combustion challenges, ensuring stable and efficient operation. Additionally, it features Weichai’s proprietary ECU system for intelligent control and customized strategy development.
This event marked the domestic debut of Weichai’s 8L hydrogen internal combustion engine, featuring:
- A low-pressure in-cylinder direct injection hydrogen system: It uses low-energy spark ignition and precise management of in-cylinder temperature and flow fields to effectively reduce pre-ignition risks.
- Advanced in-cylinder direct injection control technology: This ensures flexible and accurate hydrogen fuel supply to meet engine requirements under various operating conditions.
- High-efficiency, low-inertia turbocharging and ultra-lean combustion technologies: These enable clean and stable combustion, meeting China’s National VI emission standards with a simple SCR system.
- A dedicated safety management system: Combining a closed-loop forced ventilation system with multiple intelligent sensors, it reliably monitors hydrogen concentrations in combustion, exhaust, and crankcase environments.
Supported by these advanced technologies, the 8L hydrogen engine achieves a power output of 257kW and a maximum torque of 1,400N·m. It is now installed in the Shaanxi Heavy Duty Truck M6000 cargo truck.
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At the Hannover Motor Show held in Germany this September, Weichai’s latest generation 15L in-cylinder direct injection hydrogen internal combustion engine, paired with Sinotruk’s next-generation Yellow River truck, made its official debut. This engine delivers 560 horsepower and a maximum torque of 2,600N·m while supporting multiple fuels, including methanol and natural gas, with over 90% component interchangeability.
The exhibition of this series of hydrogen internal combustion engines highlights Weichai’s technological advantages in high-efficiency energy conversion, low-pollution emissions, broad application prospects, and proprietary intellectual property. These advancements represent a major breakthrough in the development of new energy technologies for Chinese power systems and contribute “Chinese wisdom” to the achievement of global sustainable development goals.
