At present the use of hydrogen as a transportation fuel is limited to a number of captive and leased fleet demonstrations. The larger scale consumption of hydrogen is constrained in part by the development of hydrogen infrastructure and production, which in turn may only be promoted by an active demand for hydrogen as a fuel. On the other hand, the widescale demand for hydrogen resulting from growth of vehicles consuming the fuel is in turn constrained by the limited infrastructure and associated high fuel cost. These issues present a significant challenge to displacement of traditional fuels and expansion of the hydrogen economy in the near to medium term.

The current study proposes a role for the internal combustion engine in transitioning to the hydrogen economy. It is demonstrated that the ICE has capability to operate on an extremely wide range of fuels, both liquid and gaseous, and importantly can enable a single vehicle to operate on a variety of fuels. In particular it is shown that operation is effective with varying grades of hydrogen, including blends of hydrogen with other gaseous fuels, and that the same vehicle may operate on a widely available second fuel such as gasoline. The flexibility in fuel choice removes fuel availability as an obstacle to vehicle growth in the market, and creates a demand for future fuels and the supporting infrastructure. In conclusion it may be seen that the ICE is a key enabler for growth in the hydrogen economy.