China Announces World’s First Car Engine Powered by Ammonia

Anis

04 July 2023 at 12:00 PM

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GAC's 1200HP AION Hyper SSR Supercar.

Ammonia has been proposed as a clean fuel for ships, planes, trucks, and trains, but Guangzhou Automotive Group Co. (GAC) believes it has a future in passenger cars as well.
To put this theory to the test, they built a combustion engine capable of reducing emissions by 90%.

The state owned automaker recently announced at a Tech Day presentation that it had developed a 2.0-liter engine capable of safely and efficiently burning liquid ammonia. GAC claims a maximum output of 120 kW (161 hp) and a 90% reduction in carbon emissions when compared to conventional fuels, according to Bloomberg.

GAC Motor GS3 SUV - the first model to be CKD in Tan Chong's Segambut facility.

Unlike hydrogen, ammonia is easily transportable in liquid form at ambient temperatures and under mild pressure, and it is far less flammable than existing fuels, making it easier to store.

Furthermore, because of its chemical composition, it emits fewer emissions than conventional fossil fuels such as gasoline or diesel. It is also worth noting that pure ammonia differs from ammonia in solution, which is used as a cleaning fluid in the home. The engine is a world first, according to GAC. However, a decade ago, researchers at Korea Energy Research Institute tested the AmVeh, a car that ran on 70% ammonia and 30% gasoline.

This reduced carbon emissions by 70%, and the AmVeh team was clearly focused on the idea of a completely ammonia-fueled engine at the time.
Although an increase in NOx and unburned ammonia at the exhaust require the installation of after-treatment systems in diesel engines, ammonia can be used successfully in dual-fuel mode with diesel fuel.