French company Hopium has taken a major step towards commercialising its hydrogen electric car. After successfully completing a series of tests in real-life conditions, its innovative fuel cell system proved capable of providing up to 1,000 km of range. This test is a significant step forward in the development of high-performance, sustainable vehicles.
The tests were carried out on the UTAC circuit, where scenarios including acceleration, braking and weather variations were recreated, mimicking what a vehicle would face on the road. Hopium’s 100 kW hydrogen fuel cell was subjected to vibrations, high speeds and other technical challenges, but emerged unscathed , validating its robustness and reliability. This level of technological maturity provides a glimpse of a future in which hydrogen vehicles are a viable alternative for sectors such as heavy transport.
Hydrogen fuel cell for green transport
[post_relacionado]The company’s CEO, Stéphane Rabatel, highlighted the positive impact of these results, indicating that they mark a crucial step towards decarbonized mobility. With a clear strategy, the company is focused on developing fuel cell systems that can be implemented in heavy transport vehicles , such as trucks and buses, sectors that traditionally rely on fossil fuels.
Green hydrogen , a renewable source that only generates water as a by-product , has been the focus of Hopium’s strategy. The success of these tests reinforces the potential of this technology to transform global transport, offering a solution that reduces emissions and ensures long autonomy and fast refueling times, two critical factors for heavy transport.
Next steps and strategic alliances
Looking to the future, the company is seeking key partnerships for the industrialisation of its technology. It is already planning to build a plant in Saint-Bonnet-de-Mure and develop a 200 kW version of its hydrogen system. The company hopes to launch globally competitive products before 2030, offering a real alternative to diesel in the heavy transport market.
This technology has implications for the road, and applications are also being studied in maritime transport , where the company is already involved in the K-Challenge project. The possibility of reducing global emissions thanks to hydrogen is becoming increasingly closer to reality.
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Source and photos: Hopium