England just put another contender on the table in the race to replace traditional fuels. As the world moves beyond the electric vehicle boom, the next phase in clean transportation is taking shape—with updated engines, fresh fuel sources, and a growing focus on carbon neutrality. It all started with hybrid systems: combustion engines paired with electric power units to boost range and reduce emissions. That led to fully electric drivetrains. Now, hydrogen is entering the spotlight, and England might push projects back with this new engine.
Hydrogen is the fuel of the future—or one of them
Automaker researchers have been thinking about hydrogen-powered cars for over half a century. The appeal is obvious: fast refueling without the carbon footprint of gasoline. However, there’s a catch—hydrogen stations are few and far between, and refueling isn’t as simple as plugging in an electric vehicle. Filling a hydrogen tank isn’t as simple as rolling up to a gas station. The system requires to be sealed, high-pressure injections—a far cry from the quick-and-easy refueling drivers are used to.
Take the Honda Clarity: it proved hydrogen cars could work, even convincing Shell to trial hydrogen pumps at a few U.S. stations. But even though things have gotten better, cost is still a dealbreaker. In price-sensitive markets, hydrogen’s premium is a hard sell. And while the Clarity shows the technology works, infrastructure hasn’t caught up—hydrogen pumps are still rare when you stack them up against regular fuel stations, making refueling less convenient for most drivers.
Nitrogen becomes a possibility for engines
While hydrogen has been getting most of the attention, engineers in London are working on something different—an engine powered by nitrogen. The idea isn’t entirely new, but it’s picking up traction. Nitrogen expands over 700 times between its liquid and gas states, creating enough force to move pistons, much like in traditional combustion. That expansion could be harnessed without burning anything—and without carbon emissions.
UK-based Dearman is working on an engine with a clean twist—its only emissions are nitrogen and a bit of nitrogen-oxygen mix. That’s a huge environmental upgrade over gasoline, and even hydrogen, which comes with bulky high-pressure tanks and infrastructure headaches. Meanwhile, across the pond, researchers at the University of Washington are also betting on liquid nitrogen as a potential fuel contender. So this technology isn’t just a one-off idea—it’s gaining momentum.
Nitrogen can harm the environment
Nitrogen is not perfect. If released in massive quantities over long periods, it can disrupt ecosystems—contributing to oceanic dead zones and altering the atmosphere. Dearman is working on ways to safely return spent nitrogen to the atmosphere, but perfecting this process won’t happen overnight.
And let’s not forget the real elephant in the room: storage. Keeping nitrogen liquid demands Arctic-level cold (-346°F), requiring tanks that are tougher—and pricier—than standard fuel containers. Here’s the catch: we’re literally bathed in nitrogen—it’s 78% of the air we breathe, which causes harm at industrial levels.
The fuel is not a sure thing
Still, there are upsides. Nitrogen is cheaper than hydrogen in many respects and easier to handle in terms of system design. A nitrogen-powered vehicle would also be lighter—less stress on brakes, tires, and other wear-prone parts. And with zero emissions, it could qualify for tax breaks or road-fee exemptions in some countries. Nitrogen technology is promising, but not quite ready for mainstream vehicles. Hydrogen remains the frontrunner in the clean fuel race—just look at Renault’s investment in its Ampere Emblème, a hybrid that blends electric power with a hydrogen fuel cell.
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