Starting young pays off: KU Leuven students build Belgium’s first hydrogen race car
Who says racing and sustainability can’t go hand in hand? A group of KU Leuven students has developed Belgium’s very first hydrogen-powered race car. With their ‘Hydro Team’, eight full-time graduates are aiming high: competing at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans by 2030.
Their first prototype has already taken shape. Interestingly, the students opted for a hydrogen combustion engine rather than a fuel cell. The reasons are practical: less complexity, lower costs, and a lighter vehicle. And as a bonus, the car still roars like a real race car, something that would be lost with a silent electric motor.
With Le Mans embracing hydrogen as a future technology for racing, the students see their goal as “ambitious but achievable.” One thing is certain: Belgium’s first hydrogen race car is off the starting line.
Image: Hydro Team
