Green Hydrogen and Breakthrough Innovation: A New Generation of Engines Takes Shape

At the intersection of the energy transition and industrial innovation, a decisive milestone is unfolding in western France. For several weeks now, Efficient Hydrogen Motors has been conducting an intensive testing campaign using 100% green hydrogen, produced locally. These trials, performed on the latest version of our innovative combustion engine, represent a tangible step forward in the search for a robust, durable, and sovereign alternative to conventional technologies.

A project born from a conviction: rethinking tomorrow’s engine

It all began in 2022, in an office within the ENSTA Bretagne incubator, with a simple yet ambitious idea: to rethink the engine of the future—not by adapting existing designs, but by developing a radically new architecture, purpose-built for hydrogen. Behind this idea lies the unlikely story of a meeting in Los Angeles in the early 2000s between André Morin, a former military mechanic, and Wilson Hago, a California-based researcher and expert in decarbonization. Together, they imagined a five-stroke, zero-emission, high-efficiency engine and filed the first patents.

In 2022, with the support of industrialist Didier Arenal, the concept became a reality: Efficient Hydrogen Motors was founded in Châteaulin, Brittany. First incubated, then established in the local business incubator, the team grew from a small office to three workshops, bringing this unique innovation to life by assembling a committed group of experts from top institutions, turning a bold vision into industrial reality.

Hydrogen combustion: a practical technology ready for adoption

Faced with the limitations of current technologies (range, cost, reliance on rare metals), direct hydrogen combustion emerges as a promising solution. This is the path EHM has chosen: developing a next-generation internal combustion engine capable of running on locally produced hydrogen with a reduced carbon footprint.

The ongoing testing phase is validating the robustness of the architecture against the specific challenges posed by hydrogen—such as auto-ignition, sealing, and material wear. These tests confirm that the technology meets industrial requirements while remaining easily compatible with existing infrastructure.

A territorial, circular, and international approach

The hydrogen used to power our engine during tests is produced locally in Brittany. This reflects our commitment to building coherent territorial ecosystems, where production, use, and maintenance are anchored in an existing industrial network. From the start, Efficient Hydrogen Motors has been supported by the Brittany Region, notably through Bretagne Hydrogène Renouvelable, an initiative aimed at structuring a strong regional hydrogen sector. In some cases, the hydrogen used may even come from circular processes—such as waste-to-energy plants—illustrating a virtuous energy loop.

While our local roots are strong, our technology is designed for global deployment. Already, numerous international partners (industrial players, integrators, clients) are working with us to accelerate the roll-out of the technology across multiple regions. This momentum speaks to the global potential of our solution.

A committed team for a realistic industrial transition

Above all, this project is a human story: a multidisciplinary team, united by a clear vision. From mechanics to PhDs, each member contributes daily to turning an idea into a concrete industrial solution. Alongside renowned investors and technical partners, EHM is building a credible answer to the decarbonization of sectors that are hardest to electrify.

Next milestone: industrialization

Our first target applications are generator sets, followed by heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses. With industrial ramp-up already underway, EHM is aiming for a near-term market launch.

By demonstrating that hydrogen can be produced locally, consumed on-site in a robust and efficient engine, and integrated into real-world use cases, EHM is helping to build the real hydrogen economy—where innovation becomes a driver of tangible impact.