Hydrogen ICE Testing for Future Mobility Solutions

What is Hydrogen ICE?

Hydrogen ICE (internal combustion engine), also known as H₂ ICE, is an engine that uses hydrogen (H₂) as its primary fuel. Much like traditional internal combustion engines, it generates power by combusting fuel within the engine’s cylinders. However, instead of gasoline or diesel, hydrogen is ignited to produce the pressure needed to drive the pistons. When hydrogen combusts completely, the only byproduct is water vapor—eliminating carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and making H2 ICE a compelling solution for decarbonizing transportation.

Further, hydrogen ICE (H₂ ICE) can divert and utilize conventional gasoline and diesel engine parts, development environments, and common skill sets for internal combustion engines. Plus, hydrogen ICE is attractive as a means of utilizing hydrogen, because the purity requirements of the fuel are not as stringent as required for fuel cells.

Measurement and Safety Solutions for H2 ICE

As a trusted partner in future mobility, HORIBA offers comprehensive testing and measurement solutions tailored for hydrogen internal combustion engine development. Our portfolio includes advanced emissions analyzers, precision measurement tools, facility safety systems, and automation software—designed to meet the demanding requirements of hydrogen engine testing.

Drive H₂ ICE innovation with HORIBA. Talk to our experts.

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Overview of Hydrogen ICE

Benefit of Hydrogen ICE Testing is that it can utilize common parts, know-how, and development facilities of traditional gasoline and diesel engines.

Hydrogen internal combustion engines are gaining attention as a practical and scalable pathway toward decarbonizing the mobility sector and achieving carbon neutrality. By using hydrogen as fuel, these engines emit only water during combustion—offering a low-carbon alternative to traditional gasoline and diesel engines.

Key points:

H₂ ICEs support the global shift to cleaner transportation with significantly reduced CO₂ emissions.
Development issues unique to hydrogen engines include the need to address combustion improvement, emission reduction, and safety measures.
Benefit of a H₂ ICE, is that it can utilize common parts, know-how, and development facilities of traditional gasoline and diesel engines.
When using existing development facilities, it is essential to update them to be hydrogen compatible in terms of both functionality and safety.

Thee Key Challenges in Hydrogen ICE Development for the Mobility Industry

While hydrogen internal combustion engines hold significant promise for decarbonizing transportation, they introduce several technical and engineering hurdles. These challenges can be grouped into three core areas: Combustion Optimization, Aftertreatment Development, and Safety. Addressing these areas is critical for ensuring performance, regulatory compliance, and long-term reliability. Below, we explore each in more detail.

Combustion Optimization

Development of A/F and λ sensor
Suppression of abnormal combustion
Improved power output by supercharging, direct/high pressure injection
Prevention of deterioration caused by large amounts of moisture
Optimal map creation for hydrogen fuel characteristics
Hardware improvements

Aftertreatment Development

NOx reduction using catalysts (TWC /SCR /DOC, etc.) and EGR
Suppression of NH₃ formation by H₂/NOx reaction in TWC
Reduction of NH₃ slip from Urea SCR
Inhibition of PM/PN from blow-by gas
Suppression of N₂O generation in ASC
Inhibition of CO₂ generation from Urea and engine oil
Get the latest regulatory trends

Safety

In fact, rapid construction of safe testing environments for hydrogen ICE are required. These safety environments are necessary for dealing with exhaust containing high concentrations of moisture and unburned hydrogen. Thus, the following measures must be implemented through effective use of existing facilities and optimal investment.

Leakage countermeasures for injectors
Hydrogen concentration in crankcase management
Ensure reliability of parts against by-products
Countermeasures against hydrogen embrittlement

HORIBA's Hydrogen ICE Measurement Solutions

We work together with customers to find solutions and offer a wide range of measurement testing products to solve their challenges.

The challenges and solutions of hydrogen ICE vehicle development

First, the need to accurately measure various gases generated during combustion to optimize combustion and reduce emissions.
- At HORIBA Automotive, we offer a wide range of analyzers including H₂, H₂O, NOx, NH₃, N₂O, CO₂, H₂O, PM, and PN.

Second, don’t have the measurement know-how to correctly measure hydrogen ICE.
- We also offer measurement technologies to accurately measure various components in exhaust gas containing high concentrations of moisture and unburned hydrogen.

Third, would like to get the latest information of regulations and trends related to hydrogen ICE.
- HORIBA Automotive supports customers by quickly getting information on regulatory requirements for hydrogen ICE emission test methods.

Lastly, want to maximize the use of existing facilities to make them compatible with hydrogen ICE in terms of both functionality and safety.
- We provide support for measures to deal with exhaust containing high concentrations of moisture and unburned hydrogen.

Examples of development and evaluation facilities for hydrogen ICE

Hydrogen ICE Facility Solutions for Vehicle Development

HyEVO

Correctly measure H₂ in exhaust gas containing high moisture with Wet

Accurate determination of combustion efficiency from unburned hydrogen

• Highly accurate wet measurement eliminates error factors due to dry-wet conversion
• High-speed response enables transient hydrogen gas concentration measurement
• Safety design considering hydrogen characteristics

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MEXA-ONE IRLAM

Correctly measuring combustion conditions to reduce NH₃

Supports exhaust gas reduction by correctly evaluating NH₃ generated during SCR reduction

• Unparalleled response to stoichiometric and lean combustion changes
• Wide range to accurately evaluate the peak during stoichiometric and lean combustion
• Sampling technology to correctly measure NH₃ is also proposed (patent registered)

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FTX-ONE series

Simultaneous multi-component measurement to correctly measure combustion conditions and aftertreatment performance

Simultaneous measurement of H₂O and NOx/NH₃/N₂O with a single unit

• Unparalleled response to stoichiometric and lean combustion changes
• Low flow sampling to minimize turbulence in the measurement field
• Measurement of up to 28 components, including high-concentration moisture