Hello all,

Has anyone ever investigated running a 2cv using the original engine from hydrogen gas?

I've always been interested in hydrogen, and I've even managed to make my lawnmower stutter for a few seconds off the stuff, but I'd be interested to see if I could get a 2cv running happily and practically off hydrogen gas.

I've done a bit of research, This document was quite helpful. As far as I can see, the whole ignition system would need to be adapted, as a wasted spark system can apparently lead to pre-ignition, and also the timing would need to be almost TDC.
Pre-ignition might still be a problem, and there are lots of solutions suggested, exhaust gas recirculation and so on.
Also, I've no idea about the entire fuel system, where to source a tank, what sort of pressures and regulation, flashback arrestors and so on would be needed. Also, how to inject it.
And legally, I can't find any information about it, whether hydrogen is covered in the 'single vehicle approval' thing, are there any regulations governing their use??

Basically, does anyone know anything about the subject, or could suggest where to find out information, or is this still a fairly new area and I'd be best to mess around in my shed and just experiment?

I'm not expecting great things, I suspect legally it'll be impossible if nothing else to get a working, road legal 2cv at the end of it, but it could be an interesting project at least.

George

I wouldn't worry, we've had crazier/less road worthy things on our roads, I'm sure.
I like the sound of this, if you can do it, it would be brilliant, good luck

Please read my topic about lpg and self programmable ignition and injection,
almost any problem you call can be solved with this.. (ofcours not a fuellcell)

but ignition at tdc or beyond (actually at any point you want it to ignite at any rpm at any pressure at any airtemp / motortemp /oil/heat (aircooled)
2 coills so no wasted spark, coil on cops, single point injection, multipoint injection, staged injection, sequential injection and so on!!! everything is doable.
knock sensor you can do it, fuell injection, lpg injection, hydrogen injection???
turbo, compressor, g-lader
(I did/do most of above)!!!!

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1100

Thank you, I can't believe I've not seen that thread before!

I'm not so interested in making it go fast, but whatever I do, that 'megasquirt' system looks perfect, and perhaps even affordable if I buy it in kit form. I hadn't considered using LPG before, but that would be quite an interesting project in itself, and provide most of the infrastructure if I decided to try Hydrogen later on...
Hmm...

I still can't find any information about the legal status of Hydrogen vehicles, but I'll carry on my little experiments at home.

What size LPG tank do you use, and how long does it last?

I can tank 25 litres then it stops this is about 85% of the tank but you are not allowed to fill it up any futher gas needs to expand..........

without turbo i make about 300 /350 km with it mixed traffic heavy right foot
with the turbo 1.2 bar of boost about 180!!!!! (same foot) only much much faster...

Can you buy a fuellcell at the moment and can you fill it up anywhere???

I know in Germany there are some fuellcells for sale but these are as big as a lighter, you can propell your cellphone with it but not a 2cv.......

Problem is that fuelcells are really expensive because there's platinum in them...

What about a 2cv with a "wood gasifier"?? so's you can drive on logs?

el camino

I know it's not the subject but i have just read a really good book about one of the German Panzer divisions in occupied France ( sorry can't remember title and don't really like war books) but this one was brilliant. Written by Max Hastings. It tells the story of the occupation, Vichy, and the attrocities suffered by the French.......a really awful story. This was about 1939-- 1944 and the prototypes of our cars were in hiding in the countryside ( ref the biography of Pierre Boulanger). It is several times mentioned in the book about cars and military vehicles run on charcoal chugging along those lovely French roads in the 1940s.
Anyone know about this fuel. Now...excuse me..i know it is not the subject but thought i would add it to this thread.........Happy Easter to you all

Is this what you mean?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZQxMzrX_Lr8/S ... 1.gas1.jpg