Forze Hydrogen Electric Racing is a team of students specialized in hydrogen electrical careers founded at the Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology in 2007 by Edgar van Os. They have built eight hydrogen fuel cell racing vehicles.
In 2007, the team began designing and building hydrogen electric drive karts and they participated in Formula Zero racing, hence the name ForZe (a combination of the words “force” and “zero”). After five years of advancement they built the first full-size hydrogen racing car, the Forze VI.
Another three years later the project began for the Forze VII which became the first hydrogen and electric race car to participate in an official race against gasoline vehicles.
The latest version, the Forze VIII, was the first hydrogen-electric race car to beat gasoline cars, which is their greatest achievement. It also took second place at the Gamma Racing Days at Assen in 2019.
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Notably, the Supercar Challenge race competition at the Gamma Racing Days consists of a free practice and qualifying session on Friday, a 60-minute race on Saturday, and a 45-minute race on Sunday.
Some of the main improvements over the previous vehicle were: implementation of a more powerful hydrogen system, completely new front and rear suspension, total redesign and production of the electrical wiring harness and a completely new carbon fiber body for much higher aerodynamic efficiency.
Why was the hydrogen racing car built?
As stated on their website, the idea of creating the new vehicle was based on the premise of competing and winning in the Supercar Challenge in order to demonstrate to the world the potential of hydrogen and the future of sustainable racing.
Forze’s goal in the near future is to participate in higher classes of the Supercar Challenge, such as the GT class, and then advance to endurance races such as Le Mans Prototype.
The achievements
The Forze VIII became the first hydrogen racing car in history to compete in an FIA certified race and on August 18, 2018, it raced in the sports division of the Supercar Challenge against gasoline supercars.
At the Zandvoort circuit, the Forze VIII holds the official lap record for electric sports cars with 1:55,809 during a test in which conditions were far from ideal. At TT Circuit Assen, Forze VIII’s unofficial lap record is 1:56.958.
Stats
- Acceleration (0 – 100 km/h) < 4 seconds
- Top Speed: 210 km/h
- Fuel Cell Power: 105 kW (141 hp)
- Boost Power: 220 kW (295 hp)
- Weight: 1250 kg
- Size: 475 x 190 cm
Wratting by | Gabriel Sayago
