California-based company opened doors in 2011.
Hyperion is a hydrogen-powered car that’s making the rounds on the internet. California-based Hyperion recently updated its Facebook cover photo. This is an elaborate way to announce that a teaser image of the forthcoming car has been released.
It’s a darkened teaser so there isn’t much to see. A head-on view shows a machine that is low and wide, with a large wing at the rear. Curiously, another photo that is far more interesting was uploaded to Facebook in 2015. It doesn’t have the aforementioned wings. It is also possible to conclude that some things may have changed over the five-years since that photo was taken.
If you are confused, we don’t blame. Hyperion’s website states that the company was established in 2011. It’s also listed on Facebook as an energy business. Hyperion’s most public activity was done last year via social media, which is roughly the same time frame as what we are seeing right now. We have a teaser image of an actual vehicle, or at most, an outline of a car-shaped vehicle.
It is unknown if it will come to fruition. Autoblog reports that the car will be unveiled at the New York Auto Show, but Hyperion’s social media activity does not mention a reveal. The company’s website only states that a global launch event is “coming soon”. We’ve sent Hyperion a message for more information.
The bigger question is whether hydrogen has been closed to electric vehicles by time. It was possible 10 years ago, but battery technology was very primitive and charging infrastructure was not available. The hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle could have been a great fit for a fossil-fuel driving style with similar range and refuelling times but it never took off. Although battery electric vehicles aren’t as efficient or as reliable as internal-combustion competitors in terms of range and charging, they are very close and there is no reason to think that it won’t be better within the next 10 year.
So, is it possible to see a hydrogen-powered Hyperion in the streets? Or is this just vaporware. Only time will tell.