NAMX HUV vehicle with changeable hydrogen bottles unveiled
December 5, 2022The SUV has Pininfarina design and was created by a Franco-Moroccan startup company.
NAMX recently unveiled the concept version of its first-ever vehicle, an SUV with swappable hydrogen bottles, described as an HUV with new tech and Pininfarina design.
Though the vehicle remains in its concept stage, NAMX expects to bring it onto the market in 2025.
According to NAMX, there will initially be two trim levels offered from the 2025 rollout of the HUV with the changeable hydrogen bottles. The first of the trim levels will be entry-level with rear-wheel drive and 296 horsepower. It will be able to reach 62 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds and will be able to accelerate to 124 miles per hour. Prices for this model will start at $68,410.
The other version will be the GTH, with four-wheel-drive and 542 horsepower. That model will have a top speed of 155 miles per hour and will reach 62 miles per hour in only 4.5 seconds. The price of the GTH model will be around $99,984.
The removable hydrogen bottles are what make these vehicles truly unique in their market.
The HUV has a unique form of H2 fuel storage to help to cater to a completely different experience for its drivers. NAMX patented a technology that brings together both a fixed H2 tank as well as six additional capsules that are removable and can be used as secondary tanks. This is meant to provide additional options for range and refueling.
According to the startup automaker, the vehicle will have a solid range as high as 497 miles. That said, it intends to create a removable capsule distribution network that will help to expand on both the availability of the H2 needed to power the vehicle and to provide drivers with the opportunity to extend their range.
“Fascinated by science fiction, [NAMX Co-founder] Thomas de Lussac chose to give the vehicle’s shape the cutting edge of the coming era,” said a recent news release from NAMX about its HUV with changeable hydrogen bottles. “His taste for the American design of the 50s and 60s, his predilection for ‘Muscle Car’, inspired him to create a car that goes against the current, smooth, conventional design of electric cars.”
Vote here for our GH2 poll, your opinion matters – What do you think is the BIGGEST problem stopping the world from using more green hydrogen?
It’s odd that we keep carefully sidestepping the obvious: DOE should team with Ford, Toyota, Hyundai and others to install 100 H-fueling stations distributed around the country to get things rolling. We don’t need hydrogen bottles and a new bottle distribution system.
The stations should use electrolyzers to make and store hydrogen at each location (not tankers from central hubs). There is room at the large stations (Love’s, Flying J etc.) to do all of this, and the IRA bill provides the money and other incentives.
The first users will be full-size semi’s, using new H-fueled 1000-mile-range units, who are already customers at these truck stops.
Why is this so difficult?
It’s difficult because the government doesn’t really care about electric vehicles. They are more concerned with routing cash to the “right” companies. Too much corruption from both sides of the aisle ensure objectives that should cost X now cost X * Y + Z.
X = actual cost
Y = payoffs to friends
Z = payments to politicians
Having another option for refueling is a good idea. I myself thought exchangeable containers would be a good backup. If the car was about to run out of hydrogen, the emergency tank could be inserted. Doing this in the winter would be awfully cold though.
I’ve seen YouTubes of a couple of H2 technologies that would render “refueling” stations moot. One is a H2 paste and the other is an H2 Cartridge. If kinks could be worked out, these would enable you to buy your “fuel” in virtually any store.
You in it’s rare to read an opening comment that is not stupid.
They’ll get there…5more years
296 HP, 124 MPH. So watt ? Are you reaching the needs of 99 % of the normal people how NEVER need to test those limits. Are you waiting for the Korean to invade the market ?
Where is the green hydrogen coming from? Take a look at these United States and Europe. There is drought all over right now. The Mississippi River so low that much barge traffic cannot travel the full length of the river. 2 years ago they had six floods. The Southwest of the United States has been in drought for about 12 years. They can’t hardly get enough water for people, let alone automobiles. What happened to the water? Where are you going to get the green hydrogen if you don’t have water?
They make now from salt water.
Green hydrogen can now be made out of sea water.
They better start the hydrogen economy as soon as possible. The fossil fuels will run out. Just batteries will not be enough. We need a replacement for fuel.
I agree with Bob Meyer…..why is this so difficult??? Governments should be backing the proper industry for mobile transport. As usual the governments support what works for them and not what’s right for the people, and in this case the environment.
Elon Musk has been a big critic of hydrogen whatever form it will be stored in. Yet he claims he will go to Mars. What fuel would he use their ? Batteries? Yeah sure, I bet it will be hydrogen in some form . Hydrogen is the future, even on the moon their is water. Biggest problem is lack of will.. I was banging on about solar and wind in the 1970’s as being a future technology.Had so many people who said it could not be done. Once again lack of will and strong opposition from fossil fuel advocates.
Also do not overlook ammonia as a carrier for hydrogen
I recently read of a new low-energy hydrogen production method. It depends on a recent discovery of a catalyst that is activated by light instead of heat, using waste hydrogen sulfide as the hydrogen source. It’s a brilliant development because it solves two problems at once. Hydrogen sulfide is produced as a toxic byproduct in many industrial processes, and conventional cracking methods require high heat to break it down. The experimental catalytic method is expected to be easily scalable for industrial use and can be powered by any light source, including LEDs. This solves the main problem limiting hydrogen as a mainstream fuel…production cost. I’ve always thought that hydrogen should be the transitional fuel to take advantage of ICE technology and support the existing manufacturing infrastructure. It also supports fuel cell use, which auto manufacturers have developed as an alternative for a couple of decades. In my opinion, the immediate transition to EVs is a less-than-practical solution simply because the infrastructure to support it doesn’t exist, and the technical problems of quickly recharging on demand haven’t been solved. The petroleum industry already has a fuel distribution infrastructure that could be transitioned to hydrogen. Hydrogen storage technologies have been developed for both vehicles and bulk fuel storage that are proven safer than current petroleum fuel storage and distribution methods.
Absolutely correct Duncan.
The distribution network is already in place.