New hydrogen-powered SUV features removable hydrogen capsules
- Hydrogen cars use electric powertrains, but they run on hydrogen fuel cells instead of batteries
- The NamX HUV also uses portable hydrogen capsules
- Charging a hydrogen car takes a few minutes
Published on Mar 19, 2024 at 8:43 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 20, 2024 at 3:33 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This is the NamX HUV, a hydrogen-powered SUV.
If you can get over the slightly weird name, it is actually pretty clever.
Just like any other hydrogen car, the NamX HUV uses an electric powertrain, but it runs on hydrogen fuel cells rather than batteries.
A hydrogen car only emits water and – more importantly – charges in minutes, unlike battery-powered cars which generally take hours.
But NamX came up with an ingenious solution to improve on this design.
The company created (and patented) a new type of hydrogen capsule technology.
The car is fitted with a main tank of compressed hydrogen but, in addition to that, it can carry up to six removable capsules, which can be used to increase the car’s range.
Located at the back, behind a protective glass cover, they’re basically the same as a portable power bank for your phone, as it were.
Performance-wise, the NamX HUV delivers 300 horsepower and does 0-60 mph in just 6.5 seconds.
Alternatively, the 550hp range-topping version is capable of doing 0-60 in just 4.5 seconds.
The range is around 500 miles – or 800 km.
Even though there’s growing interest in hydrogen technology, some companies are even developing aircraft powered by hydrogen or hypercars, this type of ‘fuel’ still plays second fiddle to batteries, which is still the preferred choice when it comes to electric vehicles.
After dominating the market for ages, Tesla fell behind BYD last year in terms of EV sales, and there’s actually a good reason for that.
BYD, just like Tesla, sells cars but also, and perhaps more importantly, sells battery technology such as battery packs.
This helped them to overtake Tesla in the market.
For the time being, hydrogen is still not taking off, especially when compared to battery-powered EVs.
But maybe that’ll change soon.
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