H2 sedan from France rolls towards start of series production
The prototype was able to be evaluated and perfected through bench and track tests. With a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph), this test version already borders on the performance promised by the Hopium Machina in its final form.
According to the company, the fuel cell platform integrates the stacks and balance of plant to generate the electricity needed to power the vehicle. The volume of the batteries has been reduced as much as possible while maintaining optimal efficiency, the company says. The tanks allow a quantity of more than 6kg of hydrogen to be loaded for a filling time of only 3 minutes. For the series vehicle, Hopium envisions a performance of 500 horsepower, a maximum speed of 230 km/h and 1000 km of range.
The Alpha 0 also introduces the signature lighting, emblem of Hopium, whose shape is reminiscent of the stratification of hydrogen and the movement of waves on the surface of water.
The reveal of its technological showcase is described as a key step in the company’s roadmap. It is accompanied by the opening of an order book for the first 1,000 numbered units of Hopium Machina, whose reservation price is set at 410 euros, in reference to the spectral line of hydrogen. Industrial production is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2022.
The founder of Hopium is Olivier Lombard, the youngest-ever winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race was like an open-air laboratory for the development and perfectioning of hydrogen drives, the company says. The launch of Hopium is a result of Lombard’s experience as a professional racing driver.
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