Aussie H2X has hydrogen SUV rivals
Looks like Australia’s H2X has some competition when it comes to SUVs powered by hydrogen fuel cell stacks.
While the local start-up has forecast it will have an FCEV SUV on-sale as soon as 2022, global giant Jaguar Land Rover and BMW are getting into the act as well.
And so is little known American electric vehicle start-up Ronn Motors.
JLR, the UK-based manufacturer owned by the Indian Tata group, is embarking on a hydrogen research project that could make its way into a production model by 2025.
The hydrogen project, dubbed Project Zeus and partially funded by the British government, joins JLR’s already confirmed development of several battery electric models including a new-generation all-electric XJ large saloon.
Currently, the group’s only EV is the Jaguar I-Pace, but it also offers several plug-in hybrids.
“With hydrogen, we believe there’s a key place [for it in our line-up]. We’re developing and investing in that, and we’re getting great support to do that,” JLR product engineering chief Nick Rogers told media recently during an online event.
The first FCEV to break cover is likely to be medium-sized, but the technology definitely makes sense for the larger vehicles SUV specialist Land Rover and its luxury division Range Rover make.
The Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover Sport, Velar and flagship Range Rover would all be suitable for hydrogen, given they are already big and heavy vehicles that make battery propulsion less efficient.
The Jaguar F-Pace SUV would also be a candidate for hydrogen.
BMW, meanwhile, has announced it will launch hydrogen versions of its X5, X6 and X7 SUVs starting in 2022 with the X5-based i Hydrogen NEXT.
To be built in limited numbers, the i Hydrogen NEXT integrates the fifth generation 275kW electric drive used by the iX3 BEV with a hydrogen fuel cell that produces 125kW.
And Ronn Motors? Well that’s run by a fella called Ronn Ford – so it would have been hard for him to start the Ford Motor Company we’re guessing!
The vehicle he’s touting is called the Myst and it’s supposed to go on-sale in the USA and China in 2022.
“Our vehicle is thoroughly engineered, computer tested for certifications in both China and the US, the US and European supply chains have been developed, and our body design teams are earnestly working on the final design for release to the public,” said Ford.
Meanwhile back in Australia at H2X work continues on its product plans, as we report here.
