Alpine will use hydrogen V6 engines for its future sports cars

Much like the elusive arrival date of the Tesla Cybertruck, it is not clear exactly when electric vehicles will finally replace those with conventional combustion engines. The proposed European ban on combustion engines for 2035 is not yet set in stone, and several carmakers are still working on hybrids and alternative technologies. Alpine is one such company, having confirmed that it will use hydrogen V6 engines for its sports cars.

Hydrogen power is one of those alternatives that excites fans, since it could potentially let us enjoy the sound of an engine in the coming years. Yamaha has already developed a hydrogen-powered V8, and Alpine’s A4810 concept is a fully hydrogen-powered supercar.

According to an interview with Alpine’s CEO, Laurent Rossi, the company is “actively” looking to use hydrogen technology for both racing and road cars. “It is only natural that we look for parallel paths. And I say parallel on purpose. The idea is that we want to find alternatives that are not necessarily incompatible with electrification, because electrification is, whether we like it or not, the future of the automotive industry for at least 60-70% of the car parc.”

Hydrogen, the future of Alpine?

If 30-40% of Alpines could theoretically run on hydrogen power, that is a healthy proportion for enthusiasts who still want to experience the excitement that can only come from a non-electric or hybrid setup.

Rossi suggested the implementation of a hydrogen-powered hybrid V6, but did not go so far as to say how much power it could produce. He said that both LCVs (light commercial vehicles) with high payloads and high-performance cars could benefit from hydrogen power.

“We believe there could be a proof of concept that could be done, with hydrogen as the fuel, that could then translate into high-performance cars, and why not road cars?” Alpine’s hydrogen plans are encouraging, to say the least, and it is not the only carmaker that continues to invest in the technology. Toyota already has the Mirai sedan, and it is reported to be working on a hydrogen-powered Corolla Cross and a GR Yaris that also uses hydrogen. Between the two carmakers, hydrogen is being used for everything from a conservative sedan to a supercar concept and potentially an LCV, which demonstrates the versatility of the technology.