Technical Paper
Turbocharged Hydrogen Fueled Vehicle Using Constant Volume Injection (CVI)
1998-08-11
981922
A University of California, Riverside (UCR) 1992 Ford Ranger truck was converted to operate on hydrogen which is produced from water electrolysis at the UCR College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) Solar Hydrogen Research Facility (SHRF). The Ford Ranger's 2.3L engine was modified to operate as a lean-burn, hydrogen fuel internal combustion (IC) engine, using a Constant Volume Injection (CVI) system with closed-loop control and exhaust oxygen feedback. The vehicle had excellent starting, idle, and shut-down operation; a range in excess of 161km (100 miles); and initially operated with virtually no preignition problems typical of hydrogen fuel engines. At speeds above 64 km/ h (40 mph), the vehicle exhibited performance characteristics similar to comparable gasoline-powered vehicles, although further improvements are needed at lower speeds.
