The French group Gaussin has changed the paradigm in the technology of vehicles destined to participate in the Dakar, and in this type of off-road racing, bringing its hydrogen H2 Racing Truck to the race. With Gaussin, the future of off-road racing with zero-emission vehicles has become a reality, paving the way for the ecological transition of the competition organized by ASO.

Story by Paolo Baraldi. Photograpy Gaussin/ASO

Since that distant 1979, the Dakar (born and become legendary as Paris-Dakar) has come a long way. The race has evolved, modified and adapted to the times as the vehicles in the race did with the teams always looking for the best performance.

As in every area of evolution, even the industrial and technological one, there are moments in which an innovative leap takes place, making a future that seemed distant and that no one expected was ready to take the field, especially in a competition such as the Dakar where the technological challenges to overcome are many more than in normal areas.

The protagonist of this important change of pace for the famous off-road race is the French team Gaussin who achieved the feat of designing and bringing the H2 Racing Truck to the race in the space of a year, demonstrating its extraordinary passion and creativity. Stimulated by a pioneering spirit, the team has taken up the technological challenges of hydrogen propulsion by leading the Gaussin Group's mission to develop clean mobility technologies with the ultimate goal of a world without fossil fuels, even in the off-road world.

High-quality components, contributions from dozens of recognized experts in their fields, thousands of hours of development and testing, component certification by inspection bodies, vehicle homologation: these are the safety measures implemented in the development and design of the Gaussin H2 Racing Truck. For example, the fuel cells have been bench tested in extreme conditions that go far beyond the traditional tests performed by manufacturers for road use. Safety continues to be a priority in this project even after the vehicle has been homologated.

Gaussin is originally a French company that focuses on emission-free transport, focusing on hydrogen as a clean fuel. The most powerful hydrogen truck in the world designed for the Dakar 2022, designed by Pininfarina, it combines technology, power and robustness, with high quality components to operate in extreme environments.

The datasheet talks about an intelligent and modular "skateboard" frame where the entire hydrogen and electric powertrain is hidden in this flat frame. This means that, in theory, everything can be combined in terms of cabs and tools like a van, concrete mixer or, indeed, a Dakar racing truck.

The H2 Racing Truck with two electric motors of 300 kW each (this equates to a total power of 817 hp and a maximum speed limited to 140 km / h by the organization, just like every Dakar truck) is powered by fuel cells, powered by a tank containing 80 kg of hydrogen, they have a power of 380 kW and 82 kWh batteries.

An 80 kg “full” of hydrogen guarantees a range of 250 km in racing conditions with a 20 minute recharge time with a specific hydrogen cooling station. Thanks to the collaboration with the company Aramco, Gaussin has ensured that mobile hydrogen refueling points (developed specifically for vehicles with alternative fuels) are provided along the route of the race. Aramco, sponsor of the Gaussin team, is a large company in the world of energy and chemistry.

In addition to the presence in the rally with iys H2 Racing Truck, Gaussin is a partner of Dakar, providing clean solutions in terms of motorization of vehicles and energy transformation.

The official partnership agreement with the Dakar Rally makes Gaussin a technological partner and a provider of clean solutions in terms of vehicle engines. This partnership is part of the “Dakar Future” program carried out by Amaury Sport Organization, organizer of the Dakar Rally.

With the signing of this partnership, Gaussin becomes a provider of clean solutions for the Dakar, serving the gradual decarbonization of a competition that aims to reinvent itself and to make its contribution in the fight against climate change.

Since 1978, the Dakar has served as a test bed for manufacturers to test new technologies in extreme conditions. With its Dakar Future program, the Dakar is turning this open-air laboratory aspect towards the development of low-emission engines. The Group support both the motorization of vehicles and support initiatives within the broader framework of the Dakar energy transformation.

This partnership should help the competition organizers to successfully implement the "Dakar Future" program, which establishes a gradual energy transition strategy for the Dakar and also initiates a transformation of racing vehicles.

"Dakar Future" provides for a gradual conversion to clean mobility with a calendar that extends to 2030 and includes great deadlines, the first of which has already been played at the Dakar 2022.

Regarding the transformation of the motorization of cars and trucks in the race, the first phase will start as early as 2022 with the participation of teams with zero-emission vehicles in the new T1-U prototype category, including the world premiere of Gaussin Truck's H2 Racing .

From 2026 onwards, all elite competitors in the car and truck categories will drive vehicles that meet the new ultra-low emissions standard and, starting in 2030, the car and truck categories will consist entirely of vehicles powered by low-emission engines.

“The Dakar is the world's biggest rally-raid and represents an incredible showcase for GAUSSIN's know-how and technology. We share with the organizers of the competition - and with the Saudi Arabian authorities - the objective of decarbonized mobility and the desire to fight with determination against climate change. The signing of this partnership strengthens our involvement in the Dakar Rally and complements our participation with the H2 Racing Truck®. As both a demonstrator during the competition and a technological partner to provide clean solutions, GAUSSIN wishes to share its expertise and know-how and thus serve the necessary and urgent energy transition for the climate and the environment,” said Christophe Gaussin, CEO of Gaussin.

"The Dakar has always been a land of adventurers. This spirit of daring is becoming increasingly necessary as we enter a decisive phase, dedicated in particular to the transformation of motorization types. Ambitious companies that adhere to the vision of the "Dakar Future" plan are choosing to confront the extreme conditions imposed on vehicles by the rally. Gaussin has shown its willingness to explore this path and to commit to participating in this common challenge. It is this enthusiasm and involvement that attracted us, the technological know-how already acquired and the research capabilities that Gaussin mobilizes being valuable assets to achieve our objectives,” said Yann Le Moënner, A.S.O.'s General Manager.

In addition to this, Gaussin contributed to the Dakar 2022 with his Smart Bivouac, a temporary installation that will follow the race and which is powered by hydrogen. A zero-emission solution that foreshadows what could be tomorrow's solution for the entire Dakar.

Gaussin is an engineering company that designs, assembles and sells innovative products and services in the transport and logistics field. Its know-how encompasses cargo and passenger transport, autonomous technologies allowing for self-driving solutions such as Automotive Guided Vehicles, and the integration all types of batteries, electric and hydrogen fuel cells in particular.

With more than 50,000 vehicles worldwide, Gaussin enjoys a strong reputation in four fast-expanding markets: port terminals, airports, logistics and people mobility. The group has developed strategic partnerships with major global players in order to accelerate its commercial penetration: Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics in the airport field, Bolloré Ports and ST Engineering in ports and Bluebus for people mobility.

Gaussin has broadened its business model with the signing of license agreements accelerating the diffusion of its technology throughout the world. The acquisition of Metalliance confirms the emergence of an international group present in all segments of intelligent and clean vehicles.

In October 2021, Gaussin is winner of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport.

Gaussin has been listed on Euronext Growth in Paris since 2010.

More information on www.gaussin.com