Race performance: Ligier JS2 RH2 passed the test at a speed of over 280 km/h.
- The robustness and continuous performance of the hydrogen system has been proven over a distance of more than 5,000 kilometers comparable to the Le Mans race.
- The two companies have launched the first concept study on liquid hydrogen storage for future motorsport projects.
- The Ligier JS2 RH2 will take part in the world premiere of the demonstration lap reserved for hydrogen racing on Saturday, June 15, 2024 during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- The Ligier JS2 RH2 will be on display during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in H2 Village.
Magny-Cours, France; Abstadt, Germany – In order to promote clean energy technologies and the sustainability of motorsport, Bosch Engineering Group and Ligier Automotive have taken the next step in hydrogen demonstrators. Over the past few months, we have carried out intensive tests to test the robustness and durability of the engine and the vehicle as a whole, and to further optimize the driving system.
Johannes-Jörg Rüger, President of Bosch Engineering GmbH, says: "The development and engineering of hydrogen engines for motorsport allows us to introduce particularly demanding technologies to the track at an early stage, which can also serve as a benchmark on the road. This puts us at the forefront of future hydrogen-related projects, whether in motorsport or high-performance sports cars. »
Competitive performance
In recent months, Bosch Engineering and Ligier Automotive have further modified the car. Systematically applied, the 3.0-litre twin-turbo hydrogen engine achieves a high output of 443 kW, a torque of 650 Nm and an excellent transient response. In addition, the robustness and long-term performance of the hydrogen system under extreme operating conditions and external temperatures from 0° to +35°C have been proven through extensive testing and simulation. In high-speed tests, the vehicle repeatedly reached a top speed of more than 280 km/h without any abnormalities, increasing the likelihood that the top speed would be close to 300 km/h. Overall, the car completed more than 5,000 kilometers of track tests under high loads without any particular anomalies. That's roughly the distance traveled by the winning teams at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in recent years.
"The results show that our hydrogen concept can meet the extreme requirements of long-term racing and provide a good basis for future development for high-performance racing and sports cars," says Rüger. The experience gained from the Ligier JS2 RH2, for example in the design of high-pressure tanks and complex hydrogen safety concepts with active and passive units, is being integrated into future projects for both companies' customers.
Liquid hydrogen - the first concept study
Currently, hydrogen storage for mobile applications is mainly for hydrogen, which is stored in vehicles at high pressures of up to 700 bar. Due to its higher storage density, liquid hydrogen may also be an alternative storage option in the long term. Bosch Engineering Group and Ligier Automotive are developing their expertise around this technology. The two companies have already conducted the first studies to integrate liquid hydrogen systems into vehicles.
As part of the development of the Ligier JS2 RH2, Bosch Engineering was responsible for the overall design of the vehicle and played an important role in the development of the engine and tank concept as well as the comprehensive multi-stage hydrogen safety system. Ligier Automotive was responsible for the overall dynamics of the vehicle, the design of the monocoque, including the adaptation of the existing Ligier JS2 R chassis, and the complete cooling system of the car. Ligier Automotive also optimized the mechanical components that use hydrogen and led their overall integration into new vehicles.
World premiere of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
After its public debut last year on the occasion of the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Ligier JS2 RH2 was presented at the Hydrogen Village, dedicated to this new energy sector.
Next June, the Ligier JS2 RH2 will be presented on the track on Saturday, June 15, 2024, a few hours before the start of the 92 Hours, this time in the first world demo lap reserved for the hydrogen race of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It will race alongside H24, MissionH24's hydrogen electric racing prototype, and other manufacturers working to deploy hydrogen in motorsport.
"We are very proud to be one of the first manufacturers to see their hydrogen car in action on the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit," commented Jacques Nicolet, President of Ligier Automotive. We are fully focused on integrating new energy sources into the automotive industry, and this demo circle shows that motorsport is an incredible research laboratory for developing and testing new technologies. »
The Ligier JS2 RH2 will be on display at the Hydrogen Village during the week of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Contacts for media inquiries:
Ligier Cars
Elsa Nicollet
+ 33 (0) 6 16 36 77 30
Bosch Engineering
Cornelia Doerr
+49 7062 911-1986
Ligier Cars
Ligier Automotive is a manufacturer based in France (Magny-Cours, Amilly) and the United States, and its Ligier Automotive North America (Denver, North Carolina) employs about 100 people. It offers one of the widest range of cars sold under the same brand: from sports prototypes (Ligier JS P4, Ligier JS P3, Ligier JS P320, Ligier JS P2, Ligier JS P217, Ligier Nissan DPi), to single-seaters (Ligier JS F3, Ligier JS F4 and Ligier JS F422) and GTs with Ligier JS2 R. Since 2014, he has built nearly 580 race cars. Ligier Automotive is the first and only automaker since Ferrari in 1998 to win the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans in the same year, and the only French automaker to win the 24 Hours of Daytona. Ligier Automotive is also the partner of choice for major OEM automakers in the design and production of their concept and specialty vehicles.
More information can be found on the www.ligierautomotive.com website
About Bosch Engineering GmbH
Bosch Engineering GmbH is a subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH and is headquartered in Abstadt, Germany. Since 1999, the company has been a system development partner to the automotive industry and employs more than 3,300 people, providing development services for powertrains, safety and comfort systems, and electrical and electronic systems – from initial concept to series production. With a focus on electronics and software, it leverages Bosch's renowned mass production technology to develop tailor-made solutions for a wide range of sectors, including passenger cars, commercial vehicles, off-road and recreational vehicles, rail vehicles, marine and industrial. Bosch Engineering GmbH is also responsible for coordinating all motorsport activities of the Bosch Group.
More information can be found on the www.bosch-engineering.com website.
Mobility is the most important business area of the Bosch Group. In 2023, its turnover will reach 56.2 billion euros, accounting for almost 60% of the group's total turnover. This makes the Bosch Group one of the leading mobility providers. Bosch Mobility pursues a vision of safe, sustainable and exciting mobility. For its customers, this translates into an integrated mobile solution. The main business areas in this area are electrification, software and services, semiconductors and sensors, in-vehicle computers, advanced driver assistance systems, vehicle dynamics control systems, workshop concepts, and technologies and services for the automotive aftermarket. Bosch stands for important automotive innovations such as electronic engine management, ESP anti-skid systems, and common rail diesel technology.
The Bosch Group is one of the world's leading technology and service providers. It has approximately 429,000 employees worldwide (as of December 31, 2023). The company's turnover in 2023 was 91.6 billion euros. Its business is organized into four business segments: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy & Building Technology. Through its business activities, the company aims to use technology to help shape universal trends such as automation, electrification, digitalization, connectivity and sustainability orientation. Against this backdrop, Bosch's broad diversification across regions and industries strengthens its innovative capabilities and robustness. Bosch leverages its proven expertise in sensor technology, software, and services to provide customers with multi-domain solutions from a single source.
It also applies its expertise in connectivity and artificial intelligence to develop and manufacture user-friendly and sustainable products. With its "Invent for Life" technology, Bosch wants to contribute to improving the quality of life and conserving natural resources. The Bosch Group consists of Robert Bosch GmbH and its approximately 470 subsidiaries and regional companies in more than 60 countries. Bosch and its sales and service partners have a global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network in almost every country in the world. Bosch's innovative strength is crucial to the company's growth. Bosch has 136 locations worldwide and employs around 90,000 R&D personnel, of which around 48,000 are IT engineers.
For more information, please visit: www.bosch-press.com, www.bosch-mobility.com, www.bosch.com.
本文翻译来自原文24 Hours of Le Mans: The Ligier JS2 RH2, an illustration of the sustainable future of motorsport - Ligier Automotive