Inside Johnson Matthey's Hydrogen Engine Testing Facility

Johnson Matthey has opened its first hydrogen internal combustion engine (H₂ICE) testing facility in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The cutting-edge plant represents a US$3.1m investment in what the company regards as a transitional technology for decarbonising heavy-duty transport.

The facility, completed on time and on budget over a period of three years, was officially opened by Damien Sotty, Johnson Matthey's R&D Director, on 11 December.

The new facility forms part of JM's existing Gothenburg site, which already houses heavy and light duty diesel engine test cells.

For the first time, the firm will now be able to test complete H₂ICE engines rather than individual components, with the facility supporting engines up to 600kW (800hp).

This will allow the team at Johnson Matthey to evaluate the performance of catalysts within broader systems and should provide data on how emission control technologies perform in real engine conditions.

"Very proud of my team who delivered this important project for Johnson Matthey," writes Damien on LinkedIn. "Thinking long term is what defines companies that last!"

The technical infrastructure of hydrogen systems

The facility includes on-site hydrogen supply and storage infrastructure capable of handling pressures up to 500 bar, along with hydrogen flow meters, analysers and exhaust measuring instruments.

All systems include appropriate control, sensing and safety mechanisms required for handling hydrogen at high pressures.

These developments could prove to be important for the eventual maturation of hydrogen as a fuel, which is often cited as a sustainable solution for hard-to-abate sectors, like heavy industry.

"This investment shows JM is backing H₂ICE as a ready-to-go technology that will enable mobility partners to meet their decarbonisation and climate goals," says Tauseef Salma, Chief Technology Officer in Clean Air at Johnson Matthey.

The market context

The investment follows JM's involvement in Project Brunel, a collaboration with Cummins, PHINIA and Zircotec launched in November 2021 and concluded in March 2025.

That project delivered what JM describes as proof points for improvements in H₂ICE engine performance and durability, though specific metrics were not disclosed.

H₂ICE technology uses hydrogen fuel in modified internal combustion engines, presenting a different pathway to fuel cells for hydrogen adoption in transport.

It is an approach that allows manufacturers to make use of existing engine architectures while eliminating tailpipe carbon emissions, though questions remain about the efficiency trade-offs compared to battery electric and fuel cell alternatives.

Collaborations and alliances across industries

JM is a founding member of the Global Hydrogen Mobility Alliance, a coalition of over 30 companies including BMW, Toyota, Hyundai, Air Liquide and Linde.

The alliance is pushing EU policymakers to prioritise hydrogen mobility in decarbonisation strategies, reflecting broader industry efforts to establish hydrogen as a viable alternative fuel.

"For more than two centuries, JM has helped tackle some of the world's biggest challenges," Tauseef says.

"We continue to do so today because it's in our DNA. The opening of this new testing facility shows our commitment to strategic partnerships to drive innovation, strengthening the potential of H₂ICE as a net zero pathway for commercial vehicles."

The question of commercial viability

The facility's opening comes as the heavy-duty transport sector faces pressure to decarbonise while maintaining operational requirements that battery electric solutions may struggle to meet in certain applications.

H₂ICE presents potential advantages in terms of refuelling time and range compared to battery electric alternatives, though the technology faces challenges around hydrogen production, distribution infrastructure and overall energy efficiency.

The technology competes not only with battery electric solutions but also with hydrogen fuel cells, which offer higher efficiency but at greater cost and complexity.

JM's investment signals confidence in H₂ICE capturing a portion of the heavy-duty decarbonisation market, particularly for applications where existing engine platforms could be adapted rather than replaced entirely.