America’s next leap in clean transportation may not come from Silicon Valley, but from university labs buried in the heart of California and the Midwest. While major automakers are pivoting towards electrification, a quieter, more combustion-friendly revolution is underway. At the center of this revolution is hydrogen – not stored in fuel cells, but burned in engines. It’s a technology many once wrote off. Now, researchers are betting it has serious legs and improvements are on the way.
The challenges of building a powerful engine
The challenge is building engines that deliver the power and familiarity of traditional combustion without the carbon footprint. That’s where hydrogen internal combustion comes into play. Unlike electric vehicles (EVs), these engines don’t rely on rare minerals or oversized batteries. They refill quickly, go long distances, and fit into the systems already built for cars today.
However, to move from theory to highway, it takes more than good ideas in America – it takes institutions with the right resources and muscle. That’s what two public universities are now putting on the table. Backed by federal interest and a growing need for alternative fuel options, this new alliance could shift how the country thinks about clean driving — and who’s leading the charge.
America universities working on ICE fuel
Hydrogen still hasn’t had its moment in the U.S. transportation sector, especially when it comes to combustion engines used in everything from trucks to heavy equipment and large vessels. Yet, its potential to cut down carbon emissions and other pollutants is hard to ignore.
Now, a new alliance hopes to change that in America. The University of California, Riverside, the University of Michigan, and a group of industry partners have launched the Hydrogen Engine Alliance of North America. Their goal: push hydrogen as a practical fuel option for combustion engines—without slowing the broader move toward electric and zero-emission systems.
For Georgios Karavalakis, a professor at UC Riverside and one of the alliance’s co-directors, hydrogen engines are more than a stopgap. In high-demand settings where electric power may struggle, he sees them as a reliable long-term play.
Low emission and power can coexist
At a recent demo, the Southwest Research Institute ran a hydrogen-powered combustion engine in a heavy-duty truck — and the results turned heads. The engine produced far less nitrogen oxide than traditional diesel models, a key win since NOx plays a major role in creating ozone that can irritate lungs. It’s another sign that hydrogen could have a place in cutting down on transport emissions.
Karavalakis and Wayne Miller, also a UCR professor and co-director of H2EA-NA, bring expertise in combustion engines, low- and zero-carbon fuels, transportation emissions, and marine systems. Miller emphasized the role of hydrogen combustion engines as a practical solution in sectors where electrification remains challenging.
André Boehman, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, joins as a co-director, focusing on alternative fuels, fuel production, and energy conversion. Boehman noted that the alliance will promote hydrogen ICE advantages by encouraging innovation and cross-sector collaboration to ensure these engines play a meaningful role in North America’s hydrogen ecosystem and transportation objectives.
How the project is funded?
While countries such as China, Germany, and Japan lead in hydrogen fuel development-with initiatives like Germany’s Allianz Wasserstoffmotor and the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance-America currently trails behind. Karavalakis pointed to infrastructure, policy, and public awareness challenges as barriers slowing domestic progress. He also noted the high costs tied to technology complexity and raw materials.
Funding for H2EA-NA will come from annual membership fees paid by participating companies. These funds will be managed by the nonprofit UC Riverside Foundation and divided equally between UCR and the University of Michigan to support alliance activities.