NEW YORK – Although BYD and Tesla have teased enthusiastic drivers with the possibility of hydrogen-powered hypercars, it is Hyperion with is Hyperion XP-1 that has managed to create a 2,038-hp hydrogen fuel cell coupé capable of a 1,000-mile driving range.
While the hypercar with a 1,000-mile range is promising, the fact that refueling takes merely 5 minutes is the best part of this hypercar prototype. The Hyperion XP-1 had initially been unveiled in 2020, but production is still elusively on the cards. Nevertheless, Hyperion’s promise cannot be replicated in neither the hydrogen or EV spheres, reports Ecoticias.
Hyperion XP-1 testing the waters with hydrogen
While Hyperion’s hypercar does catch attention, it was conceptualized to express hydrogen’s position in the automotive industry of the future. By utilizing hydrogen fuel cells, the XP-1 is capable of producing electricity on demand as well as feeding four axial-flux electric motors. This feat has not been accomplished by other battery EVs created by both Tesla and BYD.
With horsepower over 2,000, the XP-1 is can go from 0–60 mph in 2,25 seconds proving that following the hydrogen agenda does not put a damper on performance. Performance of this Hyperion model is further enhanced due to the speedy refueling process and its impressive range. Hydrogen gets contained in three carbon fiber tanks. The tanks alone offer the 1,000 mile range with the refueling process proving to be far faster than powering up an EV.
According to Angelo Kafantaris, CEO of Hyperion, the company is set on building cars that tell stories and clearly this hypercar tells the story of a better and cleaner mobility future.
A story of engineering splendor
The XP-1 does tell a story, more so through the space-grade engineering that focuses on harnessing the power of supercapacitor energy systems developed by NASA and incorporating them into a more traditional fuel cell arrangement. With engineering genius in mind, the point was to keep the hypercar rather lightweight.
Technological genius makes the XP-1 an electric powertrain that operates silently and promises zero emissions. The futuristic aspect of the XP-1 is that solar panels have been incorporated into aerodynamic surfaces and water absorbing panels so as to improve hydrogen production.
Hyperion is scientifically exploring the realms beyond lithium or blade battery structures and is looking at hydrogen fuel to power higher performance vehicles of the future.
How come hydrogen dreams are fading?
The XP-1 surely vows that the automotive future is better with hydrogen but hydrogen-powered-vehicles are still approached with caution. While the Toyota Mirai was once seen as quite the game changer, ambitions fell flat with sad sales.
There are still many hurdles when it comes to traveling down the hydrogen route. Still some automakers, like Porsche and Toyota, continue to look towards hydrogen, however, other Italian automakers like Ferrari has abandoned all hydrogen dreams.
Perhaps Hyperion’s hydrogen-powered vehicle can encourage private investment and prove the potential posed by hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Hyperion powered by a hydrogen future
While Hyperion’s initial ambition was to produce 300 units, full production is still not underway this year. There are some prototypes on the market, but these prototypes are without the hydrogen powertrain. The prototypes feature a battery-electric setup, but provides an insight into what a hydrogen future could be like.
Hyperion would need to put in more effort to realize its incredible specs that at this point still is rather theoretical. The hope is that as hydrogen’s role in the mobility sector continues to advance, more vehicles will be powered by hydrogen and will continue to perform well. Hydrogen-engine world leader also speaks against combustion cars being the enemy to a clean mobility future and perhaps with hydrogen the future of mobility will be cleaner. At this stage, it remains yet to be seen as to whether XP-1 will enter the full production stage, however, the story told by Hyperion’s XP-1 is surely one for the books in terms of the future of a hydrogen hypercar.
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