ABSTRACT

It’s no secret that the EPA and the government has been cracking down on vehicle emissions. It seems every year it’s become harder for auto manufacturers to release high-performance cars and trucks as the window shrinks on allowable emissions. Technology is the answers to keep the horsepower game going, as we saw back in 1986 when most American V8s went to electronic fuel injection. At the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Mike Copeland, innovator, enthusiasts and owner of Arrington Performance, unveiled a Coyote-swapped 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint that is fed a diet of hydrogen and water to equal or exceed the output when run on gasoline.

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INTRODUCTION

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Called “Freebird,” the beautiful Ford is a testament to Copeland’s effort in bringing hydrogen technology to the masses. “I believe that environmental improvement, has many facets,” said Mike Copeland, CEO of Arrington Performance, and head of development in the hydrogen division. “Just like any industry, to make a change, you must approach the issue from more than one direction. I love performance vehicles and I happen to be an expert with internal combustion engines. It only made sense to delve further into hydrogen as a direct fuel source and enable the conversion from gas as a zero-emissions option.”
 
While the customized Falcon was stunning in appearance, the real story was fuel and the system developed to deliver it. And that consists of direct-injected hydrogen with water injection that Copeland says produces 20-percent more power that a stock 5.0 Coyote, but with zero emissions. Copeland worked with Red Line Synthetic Oil and Bosch to create the Ford and a host of partners on the build. 
 
Common with Ford enthusiasts, Copeland chose a Gen 3 5.0 Coyote with 460 horsepower to motivate the Falcon. And in addition to zero emissions, the goal was to maintain excellent power, drivability and driving range. Mechanically, he swapped the DI factory injectors for a set of Bosch units that now inject hydrogen and he used the port injectors to spray water, which is used to control combustion temperature.
 
This enabled the Ford engine to develop more power than stock and Copeland said it can run between four and five hours at cruising speeds on a tank of pressurized hydrogen. That comes with a 5.3 kg tank that occupies the trunk. Of, fill time is roughly five minutes, so a tad longer than gassing up your petrol vehicle, but fat shorter than charging an electric vehicle.
 
Beyond the hydrogen fuel, the Falcon looks the part of any hot rod. It’s finished in Ford’s Liquid Blue, has Autosport wheels and a fantastic stance. Backing the Coyote is a Tremec TKX 5-speed, and a Mcleod clutch. Freebird also features a TCI suspension, QA1 double-adjustable shocks and Baer Pro + brakes with 14-inch rotors and 6-piston calipers. The interior is a mix of old and new with custom TMI buckets and rear bench, and a sweet machined billet aluminum dash, with gauges provided by Classic Instruments.
 
“There are a lot of transportation methods that cannot effectively convert to zero emissions with existing solutions,” said Copeland. “At this point, compliance with emissions regulations isn’t a choice, we need find a way to be compliant and save the planet we live on. While I want hot rodders to continue to enjoy the rumble of a good drive, I also want things like cargo ships and lawnmowers to be able to be converted, not scrapped. Solutions need to be full-circle carbon-friendly with a small manufacturing footprint.” Lastly, the Company has submitted for zero emissions certification from the California Air Resource Board (C.A.R.B) and hopes to have it finalized before year end.