Professional Motorsport World
  • News
    • A-E
      • Bodywork & Aero
      • Business Services
      • Chassis
      • Circuit News
      • Data Capture
      • Driver Safety
      • Electric Motorsport
      • Engine Technology
    • F-N
      • Karting
      • Legislative
      • Logistics
      • Materials
      • New Competition Car
    • O-S
      • Off Road
      • R&D
      • Race Series News
      • Safety
      • Show News
      • Simulation
      • Single Seaters
    • T-Z
      • Team News
      • Tin Tops
      • Tires
      • Transmissions
      • Workshop
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • 2022
    • April 2020
    • September 2019
    • Expo Special Edition 2018
    • January 2018
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn Facebook Twitter
  • Sign-up for Free Weekly E-Newsletter
  • Meet The Editors
  • Contact Us
  • Media Pack
LinkedIn Facebook YouTube Instagram
Subscribe
Professional Motorsport World
  • News
      • Bodywork & Aero
      • Business Services
      • Chassis
      • Circuit News
      • Data Capture
      • Driver Safety
      • Electric Motorsport
      • Engine Technology
      • Karting
      • Legislative
      • Logistics
      • Materials
      • New Competition Car
      • Off Road
      • R&D
      • Race Series News
      • Safety
      • Show News
      • Simulation
      • Single Seaters
      • Team News
      • Tin Tops
      • Tires
      • Transmissions
      • Workshop
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. September 2023
    2. 2022
    3. April 2020
    4. September 2019
    5. Expo Special Edition 2018
    6. January 2018
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    4th October 2022

    In this Issue – 2022

    Online Magazines By Sam Petters
    Recent

    In this Issue – September 2023

    21st September 2023

    In this Issue – 2022

    4th October 2022

    In this Issue – September 2021

    12th October 2021
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn Facebook Instagram YouTube
Professional Motorsport World
Engine Technology

Viritech’s 200mph hydrogen fuel cell hypercar Apricale debuts at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Lawrence ButcherBy Lawrence Butcher24th June 20223 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

UK-based cleantech engineering firm Viritech has debuted what it has described as “revolutionary hydrogen powertrain technology” in the form of the Apricale, a hydrogen FCEV that achieves weight parity with petrol-engined competitors, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The specs of the Apricale speak for themselves: 800kW of power from two motors with a kerb weight of just 1,000kg yet a projected range of 350 miles. The result, its makers hope, is a car that combines the agility of a true drivers’ car, the punch of a hypercar, with zero emissions and without the weight penalty of a BEV powertrain. Though the car is set to be produced and sold to customers, it is also intended as a technology demonstrator to showcase Viritech’s lightweight fuel-cell and hydrogen storage approach.

Matt Faulks, former F1 engineer and Viritech’s CTO, explained the thinking behind the concept, “Hydrogen fuel cells have, until now, been used as range extenders for powertrains with batteries at their heart. We’ve essentially turned that approach on its head, developing a powertrain around multi-hundred-kilowatt fuel cell system supported by a lightweight but highly efficient battery. This delivers hypercar performance for Apricale, but at less than half the weight of typical BEV hypercars. Not only does this reduction in weight transform Apricale’s driving dynamics, but our reduced reliance on batteries means less demand on rare earth minerals.”

The car’s multi-hundred-kilowatt fuel cells are combined with high power lithium-ion cells developed by technical partner AMTE Power, with the energy flow between the fuel cell, batteries and motors, under both acceleration and braking, controlled by Viritech’s intelligent energy management system, Tri-Volt. While the fuel cells provide the main motive power for the Apricale, the battery provides additional power during acceleration, as well as a storage for regenerative braking energy.

The Tri-Volt energy management system and Viritech’s power electronics enable a continuously variable mix of energy from both the fuel cells and the batteries. In addition, the high C-rate of the batteries enables the regenerative braking system to recover considerably more energy under braking than a traditional battery electric vehicle.

FCEVs to date feature very low efficiency storage tanks (in terms of weight). To withstand 700bar storage pressure, most tanks have a weight efficiency of around 5% (5kg of hydrogen per 100kg of tank mass). Viritech has developed a lightweight composite tank design, using a graphene enhanced resin system dubbed Graph-Pro, which can be used as structural chassis members, significantly reducing overall vehicle mass.

According to Viritech, the key technologies displayed in the Apricale, including the drivetrain, the Tri-Volt EMS and the Graph-Pro structural storage vessels, have already been validated in two mule vehicles. Viritech says that its XP1 will provide the final sign-off process for the powertrain over 100,000km of running, with this testing overlapping with a production prototype, intended to validate all aspects of Apricale during 2023. The company hopes to commence customer deliveries in early 2024.

“Apricale has enabled us to completely reassess the benefits that different energy vectors offer. Until now, engineering choices have been finite and compromised, but adding hydrogen into the mix offers a whole new array of capabilities that we have aimed to optimize with a new approach to FCEV,” Faulks said. “Apricale is going to be spectacularly exciting for its owners and we truly hope marks a new chapter in powertrain technology.”

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleWheel-force measurement solutions for cars and motorcycles
Next Article McLaren Racing Formula E to be powered by Nissan powertrains

Related Posts

New Competition Car

Porsche reveals spiritual successor to the 935, the 911 GT3 R Rennsport

29th September 20235 Mins Read
R&D

Dynisma expands with new technology campus

28th September 20233 Mins Read
Team News

Hennessey announces Brian Jones as new VP of engineering

27th September 20232 Mins Read
Latest News

Porsche reveals spiritual successor to the 935, the 911 GT3 R Rennsport

29th September 2023

Dynisma expands with new technology campus

28th September 2023

Hennessey announces Brian Jones as new VP of engineering

27th September 2023

Receive breaking stories and features in your inbox each week, for free


Enter your email address:


Supplier Spotlights
  • Öhlins Racing AB
Getting in Touch
  • Contact Us / Advertise
  • Meet The Editors
  • Download Media Pack
  • Free Weekly E-Newsletter
Our Social Channels
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
RELATED UKI TOPICS
  • Automotive Interiors
  • Automotive Testing
  • Autonomous Vehicle
  • Engine Technology
  • Tire Technology
© 2023 UKi Media & Events a division of UKIP Media & Events Ltd
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Notice & Takedown Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.

CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie records the user consent for the cookies in the "Necessary" category.
elementorneverThe website's WordPress theme uses this cookie. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time.

Advertisement

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

CookieDurationDescription
OAGEOsessionOpenX sets this cookie to avoid the repeated display of the same ad.
OAID1 yearCookie set to record whether the user has opted out of the collection of information by the AdsWizz Service Cookies.
test_cookie15 minutesdoubleclick.net sets this cookie to determine if the user's browser supports cookies.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysYouTube sets this cookie to measure bandwidth, determining whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
YSCsessionYoutube sets this cookie to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
yt-remote-connected-devicesneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt-remote-device-idneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt.innertube::nextIdneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
yt.innertube::requestsneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.

Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

CookieDurationDescription
CONSENT2 yearsYouTube sets this cookie via embedded YouTube videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
vuid1 year 1 month 4 daysVimeo installs this cookie to collect tracking information by setting a unique ID to embed videos on the website.
_ga1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and track site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognise unique visitors.
_ga_*1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views.

Functional

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

CookieDurationDescription
__cf_bm30 minutesCloudflare set the cookie to support Cloudflare Bot Management.

SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by