In a statement, Hyperion CEO Angelo Kafantaris said “This is only the beginning of what can be achieved with hydrogen as an energy storage medium. The potential of this fuel is limitless and will revolutionize the energy sector.”

Hyperion

There’s a 98-inch curved screen inside, V-Wing doors, and did we mention the promised 1,000+ mile range with refueling that takes less than five minutes? As Autoblog notes, it all sounds very pie in the sky but on the ground the XP-1 is supposed to deliver performance of 0 – 60 MPH in under 2.2 seconds, and a top speed of over 220 MPH. We’ll obviously need to take a test drive to confirm.

Nikola plans to offer the Badger as both a purely battery-electric vehicle and as an electric/fuel-cell hybrid. The company claims the hybrid powertrain model will feature a maximum range of approximately 600 miles, while the battery model will be limited to 300 miles. It also claims the pickup will be able to tow up to 8,000 pounds and accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in approximately 2.9 seconds. Those capabilities, if Nikola can deliver on them, would make the Badger mostly comparable to Tesla’s Cybertruck.

However, one major issue is the availability of hydrogen stations. Compared to battery charging stations, there aren’t many places in the US where you can refill a fuel-cell vehicle. Even in a state like California, they’re few and far between outside of major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. To solve the problem, Nikola says it plans to build 700 hydrogen filling stations. The company claims it has the first locations secured, but it won’t announce them until later this quarter.

As for the truck, the company says it will fully detail the Badger at its upcoming Nikola World 2020 event in September, at which point it will start accepting limited reservations as well. The Badger, if it turns out to be more than a concept, will enter a field that is quickly becoming crowded. Beyond obvious competitors like the Cybertruck, there are vehicles like the upcoming Hummer, Rivian R1T and eventual electric Ford F-150 for Nikola to worry about.

Hyundai España’s YouTube page has posted a commercial (spotted by Motor1) showing Olympic swimmer and brand ambassador Mireia Belmonte running on a treadmill inside a sealed bubble. The video clearly shows that a Nexo’s exhaust is connected to the structure. While Hyundai stressed that its vehicle only emits water and 99.9 percent filtered oxygen, it still worked with the Spanish National Centre on Hydrogen and a sports medical center to make sure the whole process was safe.

As Autoblog noted, the video works in tandem with the Hyundai Eco Road Show that’s now touring Spain to demo the automaker’s eco-friendly vehicles. You can check out the whole video below, though needless to be said, don’t try this at home.

The X5 BMW showed off is really just a modified gasoline vehicle. BMW’s plan to create a modular platform for its vehicles includes having an option for gas engines, hybrids and pure EVs. Fuel cells currently don’t figure into the automaker’s drivetrain future. But, with its upcoming fleet of altered X5s, it’s at least thinking about an alternative.

That automaker hopes to have fuel cell test vehicles ready by 2022 and available to customers in 2025. Of course, all of this depends not only customer demand but a more robust fuelling infrastructure. No one wants a car or SUV they can’t actually fill up.

While portions of California and the northeast have filling stations, the rest of the nation is pretty much a dead zone for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Meanwhile, electric vehicles can potentially be charged anywhere with a plug. BMW isn’t just going to throw fuel-cell cars into the market willy nilly.

“The BMW Group would start offering fuel cell vehicles for customers in 2025 at the earliest, but the timing very much depends on market requirements and overall conditions,” the company states in their press release.

The benefit of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles is that the cars spit out water instead of a noxious gas and even though they have electric power plants, they can be refilled as quickly as a gasoline car.

The design might also catch people’s eyes. The six-motor design was created with the help of BMW’s Designworks and centers on a wrap-around canopy that gives passengers a clear view. And yes, safety is a concern. There are multiple redundant systems (including the fuel cells) and an airframe parachute. Initial versions will be piloted, but autonomy is in the cards.

There’s a lot of optimism inherent to the project. There are plans for test flights, but practical service will have to wait until governments offer regulatory approval. Hydrogen infrastructure is an issue as well. CEO Steve Hanvey told the AP that he believed it could take a decade or more before you’re taking a flying taxi across town. You may see alternate uses, though, such as air ambulances and cargo hauling.

With that said, this could be more appealing to cities than other airborne taxis. It’d allow more (and longer) flights that existing electric-only designs. That could not only help cities cope with higher demand, but lower the costs of flying through sheer economies of scale.

Researchers there have created a way to produce hydrogen on demand using water, carbon dioxide and cobalt. Theoretically, that would go directly into a fuel cell, where it would mix with oxygen to generate electricity and water. The electricity would then power the EV’s motor, rechargeable battery and headlights.

According to UMass Lowell, the hydrogen produced is 95 percent pure, and vehicles would not need to be refueled at a filling station. Instead, owners would replace canisters of the cobalt metal which would fuel the hydrogen generator. Because the technology can produce hydrogen at low temperatures and pressures and because excess isn’t stored in the vehicle, it minimizes the risk of fire or explosion. While this isn’t a practical application yet, it could help make FCEVs a viable option.

UMass Lowell researchers discover efficient way of producing hydrogen to power electric cars https://t.co/ON6CrK6R9Q #electriccars #umasslowell #greenhousegases #renewabletech pic.twitter.com/e3gUWOIXeM

— UMass Lowell (@UMassLowell) March 7, 2019

UPDATE, 3/22/2019, 2:30PM ET: This story has been updated to reflect that vehicles would not be refueled at a fueling station. You can read a statement from UMass Lowell’s Chemistry Department Chairman Professor David Ryan below:

The system that we have devised would not require the vehicle to be refueled at a hydrogen filling station. Our technology would use canisters of the cobalt metal as the fuel to operate the hydrogen generator. The canisters would be swapped out when expended. It’s really too early to tell, but the goal is typically to be able to travel up to 350 to 400 miles for most vehicles before “refueling.”