The interim review meeting for the national key R&D program project, titled “Development and Application of Key Technologies for Hybrid-Specific Ammonia Internal Combustion Engines for Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles,” was held in Changshu, Jiangsu Province. During the event, the world’s first pure ammonia prototype engine successfully fired up and ran smoothly, marking a major milestone for the project. This groundbreaking engine—the first large-displacement, hybrid-specific, high-pressure direct-injection pure ammonia internal combustion engine—achieved ignition and operated seamlessly alongside a high-pressure ammonia-to-hydrogen system, with all relevant technologies thoroughly validated.

This innovative engine incorporates multiple cutting-edge technologies, delivering thermal efficiency on par with today’s heavy-duty diesel engines. It offers a new zero-carbon powertrain solution specifically designed for long-haul heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The ammonia-to-hydrogen system used for ignition leverages catalytic cracking technology for high-pressure hydrogen production. At its core is a novel low-temperature ruthenium-based catalyst that efficiently generates hydrogen even at lower temperatures, significantly cutting energy use and minimizing high-temperature losses.