Electric cars are gaining more and more market shares. But not everyone agrees that it’s the only, or best, way to go. Another variant of the zero emission car are hydrogen cars.
These got off to a much more troubled start. Also because there is a very little developed infrastructure network. In Norway, for example, there are only a couple of places where you can fill up your tank with hydrogen.
However, work is being done on multiple levels to both develop the technology and achieve a much better network of stations.
This fall, a brand new hydrogen car was unveiled at the Paris auto show. Many were surprised by the newcomer, about whom little was said before.
Compete with the Porsche
The newcomer is called Hopium Machina and will be launched in 2025. A large and elegant sedan with a sporty design.
Currently, not much information about the car has been released. But it will do 0-100km/h in under five seconds and has a top speed of 230km/h.
The point is not to be the fastest, but to offer a luxury family car. Among other things, it will compete against the Porsche Taycan, we are told at the motor show.
The design is tough, with frameless doors and a coupe-like roofline. The plan is for Machina to go into production in 2025.
I think it’s much smarter than a regular electric car
1,000 kilometres
The range is the most impressive. It will travel 1,000 kilometres.
If you find a hydrogen station, it takes two to four minutes to fill up the tank.
Hopium expects the network of hydrogen stations to be much more developed in the coming years. Large investments are currently being made in relation to this in several places in Europe.
This can give a “Tesla effect”, but not on an electric car
More benefits
Some of the things that make hydrogen so attractive to look beyond are that it’s quick to fill up, that you save weight by not having to lug around a large battery pack, that the car isn’t affected by temperature changes – and that the Hydrogen cars are more environmentally friendly to produce.
In Norway, we are first introduced to hydrogen cars through the Toyota Mirai, which has been launched for two generations. But for now, sales are very limited.
Video: Watch our encounter with Hopium Machina in the clip below:
The hydrogen station crashed, so the Norwegian owners had a big problem
