Audi and Hyundai have signed a cooperation agreement concerning the development of hydrogen drivetrains.
Both companies hope that the mutually beneficent cooperation will bring the hydrogen car era closer. Hydrogen-based drivetrains use a hydrogen-oxygen reaction to produce electricity and normal, harmless water as the only emission.
The agreement stipulates that the South Korean company and its German partner should share patents in hydrogen tech research and trade finished designs of hydrogen engine parts.
In an earlier story, we reported that Audi was going to start small-series production of hydrogen-powered cars starting in 2020 or later. Despite that, the company has been looking into this tech for twenty years now. A hydrogen-driven Audi H-Tron Quattro Concept made it to a motor show in 2016, packing a 330-cell engine with 150 hp / 112 kW. The vehicle also had a lithium-ion battery set for temporary boosts to 286 hp / 213 kW.
Hyundai is also actively pursuing this direction. Its mass-issue Nexo SUV features a hydrogen engine capable of more than 160 hp / 120 kW and 600 km / 373 mi driving range.
Photo: autoweek.nl