A group of cleantech engineers in the U.K. has banded together to develop hydrogen powertrain solutions for automotive, aerospace, marine, and distributed power industries. Together, they are known as Viritech and Apricale is the outfit’s product.
Billed as the world’s first hydrogen hypercar, the Apricale is a striking Pininfarina-styled futuristic, exotic ride powered by an FCEV hydrogen powertrain that puts out a breathtaking 1,000 bhp.
With the launch of the Apricale at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, it also staked a claim as the first car in the world to achieve zero-emissions hypercar performance, with a weight of under a thousand kilograms (2,204 lbs).
The Apricale not only has a race car look; the suspension setup is similar to that of JTCC and F1 cars. The suspension features an all-round pull-rod torsion bar suspension with a limited degree of active ride control.
Viritech said this offers a low polar moment of inertia, thus affording a classic mid-engined supercar’s dynamic with minimal weight transfer understeer, yaw, and pitch.
Powering the car are two electric drives that are paired to two mechanical differentials.
Key technologies in Apricale include the drivetrain (obviously), the Tri-Volt EMS, and the Graph-Pro structural storage vessels. The latter uses lightweight composites and a graphene-enabled resin system, allowing the tanks to form part of the structural elements of the car’s monocoque.
This minimizes the weight of the hydrogen tank which typically has a weight efficiency of around 5% (100 kg storage for 5 kg of hydrogen) and improves packaging to provide a projected range of over 350 miles or 560 km before needing to refuel.
But I think the real selling point here is that you will not have to wait for hours for it to “recharge”. It will take just minutes to refuel the hydrogen tank. Keeping going for the interim technical specification.
Powertrain: 800kW total deployable energy, 6kWh Battery Pack, 2 x 400kW motors front and rear
Final Drive: Single ratio geared for 200+mph
Chassis: Carbon fibre monocoque
Suspension: Dual wishbone pull-rod actuated torsion bar front and rear, R53 Dampers
Steering: EPAS
Wheels: Dymag carbon fibre rim with magnesium centre
Tyres: 20” x 10.5” front, 20” x 12.5” Rear Michelin PS4
Braking System: 390 x 34mm CCM Discs, AP Racing 6-piston front and 4 piston rear calipers, Bosch ABS
Weight: 1,000kg
Hydrogen Storage: 700bar, 5.4kg
Dimensions: Length 455cm, Width 190cm, Height 115cm
Wheelbase: 280cm
Ground Clearance: 95mm to 135mm (active ride height)
The Viritech Apricale Hydrogen Hypercar was revealed on June 23 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Viritech said that the experimental prototype (XP1) will provide the final sign-off process for the powertrain.
As the XP1 will test for 100,000 km (62137 miles), a production prototype will be produced for the purpose of validating all aspects of the Apricale.
This will happen throughout 2023 and if all goes as planned, Viritech said deliveries of the vehicle will happen in “early 2024″. That said, you can actually register your interest HERE.
All images courtesy of Viritech [UK].
