Ford's V8 engine could be saved by hydrogen

Ford could be looking at new ways to save the V8 – as patent drawings for a hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine have surfaced.

First uncovered by Muscle Cars & Trucks, the United States patent submission shows diagrams for a proposed turbocharged, direct-injected hydrogen-fuelled engine – retaining internal combustion, but with zero emissions.

Variable exhaust gas recirculation allows the air entering the engine to be managed more efficiently, while direct injection for the fuel keeps the two key combustion factors separate – allowing the easily-detonated hydrogen to be controlled before it is ignited.

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It's not the first time Ford has experimented with hydrogen engines – in 2006, it revealed the F-250 Super Chief concept, powered by a 6.8-litre "Tri-Flex" Supercharged V10 engine which could run on hydrogen, petrol or E85, however it remained as a concept only.

The concept can be applied to almost any internal combustion engine, potentially saving the V8 range found in the Mustang and F-150 from facing the chopping block thanks to ever-tightening emissions regulations.

Ford has already confirmed its next-gen Mustang will be fitted with a V8 engine when it's launched in Australia, however it's likely to be the last of the breed with the Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle proving popular globally.

The local Ford line-up is slowly moving towards lower emissions, with five electrified vehicles set to launch between now and 2025, starting with the E-Transit and Escape plug-in hybrid.