Vehicle chassis made lighter by H2X and KTM Technologies

H2X, an Australian producer of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, has partnered with KTM Technologies to develop a ground-breaking, creative, lightweight, and affordable vehicle chassis.

KTM Technologies is the innovation and advanced technology centre for the Pierer Mobility Group, the parent company for the KTM family, and is a leader in lightweight design, mobility concepts, and products.

KTM Technologies will collaborate with the H2X team to design and develop the chassis and construction programs for their vehicles. H2X recently announced plans to manufacture hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Gippsland, Victoria, and this latest agreement represents a significant step forward in H2X’s quest to become a global leader in hydrogen vehicle manufacturing.

“Our partnership with KTM Technologies is a major milestone in establishing ourselves as a global premium hydrogen vehicle manufacturer,” said H2X’s CEO, Brendan Norman. “By leveraging the resources of a company with unparalleled capabilities such as KTM, we are not only securing our own future, but the development of an internationally competitive industry based in Australia.” 

KTM AG is an Austrian motorcycle and sports vehicle manufacturer that is majority owned by Pierer Mobility AG, a Zurich and Vienna-listed business. It was founded in 1992 but dates all the way back to 1934. Today, KTM AG is the holding company for the KTM Group, which includes the KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas motorcycle brands.

KTM Technologies, which focuses on the development of composite and advanced technologies for e-mobility, will use its innovative/progressive resources and world-renowned engineers to develop concept solutions for an origami chassis platform that H2X will use to develop and produce their vehicles in a radically new cost and resource efficient manner.

The cutting-edge chassis will use sheet metal folding and welding technologies and will be used in a variety of light trucks, vans, and pick-up trucks. According to H2X, the advantage of using an origami chassis is that it is significantly easier to manufacture and maintain and significantly more adaptable to modifications than a conventional chassis. The origami method enables extremely efficient and sustainable manufacturing, as well as comparable low tooling costs, which are normally a cost driver in traditional sheet metal forming processes.

KTM Technologies will examine several concepts for the origami chassis and determine which platform is the greatest fit for H2X’s ground-breaking fleet of vehicles.

“KTM is a proven OEM with an 85-plus year history of revolutionising the two wheeler industry,” said Mr Norman. “Their reputation for quality and innovation will help boost our global footprint, as we look to sign more vehicle production agreements like we did earlier his month with the Sarawak State Government in Malaysia.”

KTM Technologies will analyze the optimal chassis and cabin structure layout using FEM simulations. KTM Technologies is designing and developing the chassis layout to support the origami chassis approach in terms of integration.

Along with the vehicle’s structural components, KTM will explore and create the most sustainable method of utilizing eco-friendly materials for the vehicle’s outer panels, taking the entire product lifecycle into account.

“The approach of KTM Technologies is to implement the most advanced techniques available and foreseeable, and combine it with H2X’s innovative approach with the origami chassis. Related to their Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid approach we see a great opportunity coming in sustainable mobility that we are very excited to play a part in.” says Peter Martin, CEO of KTM Technologies.

“KTM Technologies has been a leader now for more than 15 years in lightweight and composite technologies, such as KTM’s revolutionary carbon fibre sports car “X-Bow” and many innovations for our world leading 2-wheeled products. Further on KTM Technologies supported many leading 4-wheeler manufacturers and we continue this leadership through our ”DRIVEN BY THE NEW” mentality to be a continued driver and the leader in this space as the world of Zero Emission Mobility comes to maturity.”

The collaboration demonstrates H2X’s capacity to collaborate with global market leaders and innovators such as KTM. As H2X continues to establish real strategic connections across all lines of industry, momentum is rising in anticipation of the company’s anticipated IPO on a major stock exchange.

Additionally, KTM Technologies and H2X are collaborating on a number of other projects, including an intriguing Motorsport venture centered on hydrogen that will be disclosed in the coming months.