California-based technology startup Hyperion has shown off a new hydrogen-powered supercar with a range surpassing all other clean-energy vehicles. The concept car can travel up to 1,000 miles on a single tank of compressed hydrogen.
Marketed as a supercar the Hyperion XP-1 is equipped with powerful electric motors capable of generating more than 1,000 horsepower. The motors can get the all-wheel-drive car from zero to 60 miles an hour in a little more than two seconds, the company says.
Unlike typical electric cars hydrogen-powered cars use gas to produce electricity. The Hyperion XP-1 doesn't burn hydrogen to produce power. Rather, it uses a process that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The only emissions are water.
Current battery technologies are no match for hydrogen-based powertrains, Hyperion's chief executive officer Angelo Karantaris said. In terms of energy densities per liter compressed hydrogen carries much more power compared with batteries. Compressed hydrogen is lighter than electric batteries, too.
The company will release several hydrogen-powered models in the future. It will eventually make about 300 Hyperion XP-1 cars, Karantaris. It didn't say how much the cars will cost.
Toyota, General Motors, Honda and Hyundai have all produced hydrogen-powered prototypes with some models making it into production in small numbers.
Hyperion built the XP-1 primarily to gain attention for the technology and to promote the adoption of hydrogen power. Others such as Nikola have plans for hydrogen models for both private and commercial use. However, most consumers remain unconvinced.
The biggest challenge facing hydrogen is a lack of infrastructure. Meanwhile, electric charging stations are abundant in the U.S.
