ABSTRACT The NeoLeMans (NeoCar) XYZ project explores the potential of hydrogen-powered vehicles under extreme racing conditions. The aim of this research is to develop an experimental platform for high-performance propulsion systems, without targeting private consumer use. Instead, the project promotes an alternative vision of mobility that prioritizes shared systems such as carsharing and public transport. Through a radically redesigned Le Mans race car—featuring modular construction, lightweight engineering, and aerodynamic optimization—a prototype is introduced that serves both as a research platform and a design manifesto. The work combines technical methods, creative principles, and forward-thinking mobility concepts, offering a visionary contribution to the discourse on zero-emission high-performance transportation.
1. INTRODUCTION
In a time when climate change and urban congestion demand new approaches to mobility, hydrogen presents itself as a promising but underutilized energy source—especially in high-performance applications. This project sets out to explore how hydrogen propulsion systems can be tested and advanced outside the constraints of commercial automotive design. The NeoLeMans (NeoCar) XYZ initiative addresses the question: How can we accelerate the development of sustainable high-performance vehicles without relying on mass adoption?
Instead of promoting private ownership of cars, this research focuses on leveraging motorsport as a platform for technological experimentation, aiming to decouple innovation from consumption. The NeoLeMans vehicle is therefore not built for the road—but for the racetrack, where innovation belongs, and where its impact can be safely and effectively evaluated.
2. THE PROJECT
The project aims to design and build a fully hydrogen-powered race car as a research platform. The approach combines advanced design methods, visual experimentation, and a critique of traditional automotive practices. The resulting prototype serves as both a testbed for hydrogen systems and a symbolic shift toward shared and sustainable transportation futures.
2.1 RELATED WORKS / RECHERCHE
The NeoLeMans project draws from a variety of influences and existing research fields:
Hopium Machina: Fuel cell architecture and platform design provided early technological reference points.
Le Mans Prototypes (LMP): Inspired the aerodynamic structure and design logic used in endurance racing.
Bio-inspired forms: Visual studies of marine life such as hammerhead sharks influenced the front design and flow control of the car body.
Modular systems (e.g., NeoPanels, NeoFurniture): Preceding works on plug-in design and modularity inform the frame and component logic of the chassis.
Each source was not only reviewed but critically analyzed in terms of scalability, environmental impact, and suitability for hydrogen integration.
2.2 METHODS
The development process follows a hybrid design-research methodology:
Visual Design & CAD Modeling: Several 3D models were created in iterative steps using Rhino/Grasshopper and Blender to refine structural geometry, aerodynamic flow, and modular interfaces.
Inspiration Mapping: A collection of analog and digital artworks, shark morphology, and platform studies was used to guide the creative concept.
Hydrogen System Framework: Research into fuel cell architecture, cooling systems, and weight distribution guided the interior space design and layout optimization.
Speculative Design Approach: Rather than testing a final product, the design is intentionally provocative and open-ended, stimulating discussion about the role of research vehicles in climate-oriented innovation.
2.3 DESIGN PROPOSAL / PROTOTYPE
The final prototype—NeoLeMans XYZ—presents a striking design language, merging aggressive geometry with efficient frame logic. The structure is built around an exposed truss chassis with minimal outer shell coverage, highlighting its experimental purpose. Key features include:
Spiked aerodynamic nose: Inspired by marine predators and optimized for downforce and air channeling.
Enclosed cockpit dome: Protects the driver while maintaining visual clarity of the concept.
Exoskeletal frame: Reduces weight, maximizes modularity, and visually communicates the car’s research function.
The prototype is not intended to be homologated for road use. Instead, it is a test object—both physically and ideologically—for pushing hydrogen technologies to their limits.
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3. CONCLUSION
The NeoLeMans XYZ is more than a car—it is a critical tool for experimentation and an aesthetic provocation. The project questions the current trajectory of automotive innovation and redirects attention toward shared mobility and focused research platforms. The next steps include simulation testing, system integration of fuel cell modules, and collaboration with university labs to expand on material performance and dynamic testing. Ultimately, NeoLeMans is a call to move innovation off the roads—and back onto the track, where it can safely fuel the future.
4. REFERENCES
Hopium Official Platform Design Documents
Le Mans Prototype Technical Guidelines (FIA/ACO)
Materiability Research Network (2021–2024)
„Bio-Form in Motion Design“, Nature & Structure, Vol. 11
NeoPanels: Modular Solar Research, 2025
NeoFurniture CAD Development (2025)
