In 2002, the United States Department of Energy awarded a $100,000 grant to the College of Engineering -- Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) at the University of California. CE-CERT research revealed that burning hydrogen produces less pollution than gasoline, but it is not pollution-free. In the process, nitrogen in the atmosphere is used as well. Nitrous oxide formation is the end result. James Heffel, chief engineer of the project, reported that ongoing research is focusing on how to overcome the problems of nitrous oxide formation.
At the University of Melbourne in Australia, a collaborative effort was initiated in April of 2007. Ford Motor Company, Haskel Australia and the Australian government (which granted AUS$1.2 million to the project), funded the AUS$3-million project. Dr Brear, one of the researchers, stated that the goal was to design and build a low-cost Australian built mass-produced engine. A further goal is to make the hydrogen engine the most efficient available. As of early 2011, the collaborative research project is still ongoing.
Not all internal combustion engines are piston-powered. Gas turbine engines can also run on hydrogen. In 2010, the California Energy Commission funded a project for small turbine engines powered by hydrogen at the Combustion Laboratory at the University of California. The engines are used to drive small 60-kilowatt generators about the size of a small shed. Researchers discovered that hydrogen has different characteristics than natural gas. For example, the combustion reaction for hydrogen is about six times greater than natural gas. Injection nozzles were designed so the flame temperature between the two gases are almost equivalent. As of early 2011, the research is still ongoing.
Sports car manufacturer Ronn Motors has developed a sports car that uses hydrogen technology. The system converts water into hydrogen and oxygen through an on-board electrolysis system. Electrolysis is an electrical process that breaks water down into its base elements of hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then injected into the engine, making the engine use less gasoline. While not a "pure" hydrogen engine, Ronn Motors states this reduces the dependence on gasoline. Ronn Motors further states the hydrogen system can be installed on any vehicle, and will not void a manufacturer's warranty.