![A man stands next to a futuristic silver sedan](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hydrogen-startups-shine-at-the-Paris-Motor-Show.jpg)
Dhananjay Khadilkar
PARIS – A 500 hp (373 kW) car with a range of 621 miles (1,000 km) reaching a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h); the world’s first car partially powered by removable fuel tanks… The sleek and innovative Hopium Machina and NAMX SUV, two hydrogen-powered vehicles developed by startups, were among the main attractions at the Paris Motor Show this year.
Considering that Hopium was founded by a former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, it’s no surprise that Machina is all about performance. Olivier Lombard, who won the LMP2 category in 2011 at Le Mans, was also the development driver for the hydrogen-powered prototype of H24 which should race in the next Le Mans races. “As a racing driver, for many years I developed a racing car with hydrogen technology. That’s why I opted for a performance car that also had a range and took between three and four minutes to refuel,” Lombard, who is also the CEO of Hopium, told Ars Technica.
Lombard explained the inspiration behind Machina. “When you’re a racing driver, you’re close to your car. You have to understand the car and feel its every move. We have the same closeness to Machina, whether it’s how the car behaves on the road or indoor interactions like touch with haptic feedback,” he said.
![The Machina is an elegant sedan.](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666460133_292_Hydrogen-startups-shine-at-the-Paris-Motor-Show.jpg)
Dhananjay Khadilkar
According to Rémi Voisin, senior engineer at Hopium, what also sets Machina apart is its cutting-edge fuel cell technology. “Ours is the most powerful fuel cell (200 kW peak power) ever produced, which can offer exclusive performance in terms of range, power and energy availability,” Voisin said.
Voisin added that they aim to start production of Machina by the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026.
One tank and six pods
For Paris-based NAMX (New Automobile and Mobility Exploration), the motivation behind designing an SUV with removable fuel tanks was to find a new solution for hydrogen mobility. “Our CapXstore system costs a lot less than the price of building a hydrogen refueling station,” Thomas de Lussac, co-founder and design lead, told Ars Technica.
The top-of-the-line NAMX “HUV” (hydrogen utility vehicle) will generate 550 hp (410 kW) and have a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h) with a maximum range of 497 miles (800 km). Of this total, 311 miles (500 km) will be provided by the fixed main tank, while the car will be able to travel an additional 186 miles (300 km) thanks to removable “CapX” capsules filled with hydrogen. “The NAMX HUV will have six such capsules, each with a range of 31 miles (50 km),” de Lussac said.
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NAMX opted for a trendier SUV. In this case, it is a HUV, since it is powered by hydrogen.
Dhananjay Khadilkar
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The ELV was designed by Pininfarina.
Dhananjay Khadilkar
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These are the removable CapX hydrogen capsules of the HUV. You can see that the third capsule from the right is protruding, ready to be changed.
Dhananjay Khadilkar
He added that these CapX capsules can be redeemed at the CapXstores the company plans to install by early 2026. “Our goal is to create a network of CapXstores where these capsules will be available. We plan to put a CapXstore every 45 km,” he said. He added that the capsules can be filled at hydrogen stations. However, NAMX will not produce its own hydrogen but will instead purchase it from existing commercial suppliers.
De Lussac said their goal was to extend the concept beyond cars to all kinds of mobility as well as boats and mechanical work.
Other hydrogen vehicles on display included a Citroën light utility van with a tank capacity of 8.8 lb (4 kg), a range of 249 miles (400 km) and a refueling time of three minutes. “The van uses a hybrid hydrogen and battery system. The battery, which offers a range of 50 km, is charged by the fuel cell,” explained Thierry Pinot of Stellantis to Ars Technica.
![Battery-electric vans like the Ford e-Transit might be all the rage, but this is Citroën's hydrogen fuel cell electric van](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666460133_374_Hydrogen-startups-shine-at-the-Paris-Motor-Show.jpg)
Dhananjay Khadilkar
According to Pinot, the hydrogen-powered hybrid system allows the van to have the same payload capacity as its internal combustion engine counterpart.
Finally, the Paris auto show also featured a strikingly designed concept car called the Alpenglow. Developed by French sports car manufacturer Alpine, essentially the sports division of Renault, it is a futuristic single-seater powered by a hydrogen internal combustion engine.
![The Alpine Alpenglow concept is inspired by the Alpine A220. The driver sits in the middle, flanked on either side by a pair of 700 bar hydrogen tanks.](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666460133_470_Hydrogen-startups-shine-at-the-Paris-Motor-Show.jpg)
Dhananjay Khadilkar
Alpine says the Alpenglow “embodies the renewal of the brand, in terms of design and technology” and that it “sets the tone as a source of inspiration for all future Alpine models”. That said, it is not intended for production and although Alpine has plans for lightweight electric sports cars developed with Lotus, it would be surprising to see an Alpine with a hydrogen internal combustion engine hit the market soon. given the very low power and efficiency these motors generate.
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