Michelin to showcase hydrogen endurance racer at Goodwood
Tyre giant has also pledged to make all tyres with 100% sustainable materials by 2050
Tyre manufacturer Michelin will present a hydrogen-powered race car at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with the goal of entering the car into the electric-hydrogen category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024.
The racer, dubbed ‘LMPH2G,’ is fuelled by a four-stack hydrogen fuel cell sending power to four electric motors. The firm says it produces a combined output of 653bhp with a top speed in excess of 185mph.
The firm will also present a new race tyre which is made up of 46% sustainable materials. The tyre consists of recycled carbon from end-of-life tyres, orange and lemon peel, sunflower oil, pine resin and recycled steel from packaging.
“Michelin has pledged to make all its tyres with 100% sustainable materials by 205 – and by 2030, 40 percent of all materials used in tyres across the group will be sustainable,” the firm said.
The company also said it will use endurance racing as a laboratory to accelerate the development of sustainable, high-performance tyres, in partnership with hydrogen firm Green GT.
“The partnership with GreenGT H24 highlights Michelin’s drive to innovation and it is the perfect vehicle to feature Michelin’s 46 per cent sustainable tyres,” said Peyman Sabet, vice president of business development at Michelin Europe North.
“Both pioneering developments honour the company’s commitment to sustainability, without compromising on performance. We are delighted to bring MissionH24 to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and really excited that fans will be able to watch it take on the hill,” Sabet said.
The car will take to the festival’s famous hill climb and will be displayed on the French firm’s paddock stage at the Festival of Speed.
It was built in a joint venture with French parts giant Faurecia, which, with Michelin, jointly owns Symbio, a hydrogen fuel cell producer. The firm aims to produce 200,000 fuel cells a year by 2030.
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