Punch Group has shared the idea to transform powerful Duramax V8 engines into CO2-free, hydrogen-fuel powerplants.
Punch Group, the owner of a few automotive-related businesses, is looking for a way to make General Motors’ 6.6-liter Duramax V8 diesel engines viable in markets with strict emission regulations, such as Europe and China. The company wants to use hydrogen as a fuel in the Duramax family instead of diesel, and claims this is technically achievable, CarBuzz reports.
The company believes that it’s better to transform the current Duramax into a hydrogen-fueled engine to offer carbon dioxide-free mobility than to use electric power when it comes to heavy-duty trucks and light commercial vehicles.
Such vehicles carry a large payload affecting the range. This means that larger and heavier batteries should be installed, and hydrogen would be a better solution, according to Punch Group. To be converted into the hydrogen engine, the Duramax V8 will need to be reworked, namely its combustion chamber, injection and control systems, a lubrication system.
We recall that General Motors uses the Duramax V8 engine delivering 445 hp and 910 lb-ft in its most capable pickup trucks, such as the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD.
Punch Group plans to launch the new hydrogen-fuel powerplant in 2024.