Renault showcased a prototype hydrogen fuel cell-powered sports utility vehicle (SUV), as the French automaker tries to catch up to competitors in the race to greener driving.
The automobile, nicknamed the ‘Scenic Vision,’ would not be commercially available until 2030-2032, according to Renault. In 2024, a completely electric version will be available.
A fuel cell car contains an electric motor similar to an electric vehicle, but the motor is driven by hydrogen-generated energy, extending the range of the battery.
The car’s range will be extended to 800 kilometers without recharging, and the battery will be twice as light, resulting in a 75 percent decrease in carbon footprint compared to a standard electric vehicle, according to Renault.
Renault is moving on with its plans to divide its electric car and combustion engine businesses.
Renault, which pioneered electric cars with Japan’s Nissan and Mitsubishi at the turn of the decade, has been overtaken by pure-play Tesla and Volkswagen’s aspirations.
Toyota and Hyundai already have hydrogen fuel cell cars on the market, while BMW plans to release the hydrogen iX5 as a limited batch series this year.
