KTM to help design Australian-built hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

KTM has partnered with an Australian car manufacturer to help design lightweight and affordable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Through its technology offshoot, KTM Technologies, the Austrian firm will lend its expertise and resources to design an “origami” chassis for hydrogen fuel cell vehicle manufacturer, H2X.

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In addition, the two-wheel giant is allegedly working with H2X on a number of other projects, including what H2X says is an “exciting motorsport venture around hydrogen”.

H2X is an Australian company that first surfaced in 2020 with former BMW and Volkswagen executive Brendan Norman at the helm. The company, which has already revealed several hydrogen-powered models, recently announced plans to build new vehicles in Victoria’s Gippsland region – a growing hub for hydrogen technologies.

While the partnership between KTM Technologies and H2X in no way suggests any focus on two-wheel hydrogen products, it does show that KTM’s parent company, Pierer Mobility Group, is prepared to explore new technologies and innovations.

According to a H2X press release, “the agreement will see KTM Technologies focus on the development of composite and advanced technologies around e-mobility and use its innovative resources and world-renowned engineers to ideate concept solutions for an origami chassis platform”.

“Our partnership with KTM Technologies is a major milestone in establishing ourselves as a global premium hydrogen vehicle manufacturer,” said Norman, H2X’s CEO. “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.”

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is considered one potential solution to the environmental crisis, along with regular electric vehicles and synthetic fuel. The benefits of hydrogen vehicles are that they can be filled up like a regular petrol car, and a have longer range than battery electric cars. In addition, the only by-products of hydrogen are heat and water.

However, there is almost zero infrastructure in Australia when it comes to hydrogen refuelling and the sustainable production of the hydrogen itself. Three state governments recently announced a financial commitment to a hydrogen “superhighway”, but there is arguably a long way to go.