Imperial College is racing its own fuel cell car in Formula Zero’s 2008 championship in Rotterdam city centre this weekend.

The zero emission Formula is for open single seaters and “aims to appeal to a new generation of race fans with technological innovations, racing in city centres”, according to Imperial.

This year’s event is between six teams who have designed and built their own cars.

Alongside Imperial is: Delft University of Technology, Netherlands; Lawrence Technological University, USA; University of California, USA; Euplatech from Spain and the Zero Emission Racing team from Belgium.

All are using an 8.5kW HyPM8 Fuel Cell from Hydrogenics which is 85x36x25cm, weighs 75kg, and goes from zero to peak power in 4s.

Maximum output current is 180A, at between 48 and 79V.

Formula Zero starts this year with the ‘Student Edition, with vehicles based on go-karts.

Cars will be larger when the Championship becomes the Street Edition in 2011, then larger still to Formula Three size for the 2015 Circuit Edition where the aim is for car manufacturers compete on racing circuits around the world.

The Imperial team is supported by the Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) programme, which promotes sustainable technologies and fuels in motorsport. EEMS is helping with the team’s operational and transportation expenses while in Rotterdam, and for the 2008/09 season.

“Both EEMS and Imperial College are committed to the development of environmentally responsible technology in motor sport and the Formula Zero Championships will provide an excellent platform to showcase our undergraduate team and their growing expertise in this field,” said Dr Gregory Offer, Imperial team manager and academic in the Departments of Earth Science Engineering and Materials.

EEMS is backed by Government through Motorsport Development UK, a public private partnership supported by four Regional Development Agencies and BERR (formerly the DTI).