Hopium Machina combines cutting-edge design, exceptional range and a quick “recharge” time (minutes) in a zero-emission high-performance vehicle. The integrated hydrogen fuel cell system generates the energy needed (475 horsepower) to propel the car to 100 kph in five seconds while exhaling only water. The vehicle can be fully “recharged” in three minutes—a marked contrast to the Tesla, which gets 44 miles of range per hour after being hooked up to a 220V home charger1. The Machina has a top speed of 230 kph (143 mph) and can travel for more than 1,000 km (620 miles) on fully charged tanks.
Designing the Machina with 3DEXPERIENCE
Dassault Systèmes promotes Hopium because (1) Hopium is French, (2) Dassault Systèmes gets behind environmental causes and (3) every use of software in the hard-fought automotive sector is to be relished. It helps that the Machina is one sexy beast—perhaps the most eye-catching design—inside and out—of any EV to come down the road.
“We have a vision to pioneer a new kind of vehicle intended to address the major environmental challenges of our era. In this context, time is of the essence. We need the agility and advanced functionalities to quickly experiment with complex concepts such as embedded electronics and optimized storage volume,” said Olivier Lombard, founder and CEO of Hopium. “By fully integrating all our activities on Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, our team was able to work securely at any time, from anywhere, and successfully create our first prototype in only 8 months.”
Lombard is a realist when it comes to the immediate impact of his next-generation vehicle.
“In the beginning, we will have competition with BEVs,” he says in a video produced by Dassault Systèmes. “But the future will be fully hydrogen.”
Outside in Design
Hydrogen can be kept in a liquid state (cryogenic hydrogen) to conserve internal space but most fuel cell EVs (FCEVs) use compressed hydrogen in a gas state and most hydrogen filling stations dispense compressed hydrogen. To get its 1,000 km range, the Machina uses multiple enormous fuel tanks. The rest of the hydrogen powerplant (fuel cell stack and motor) add up to a bulky system that must be shoehorned into an envelope dictated by style and carved in stone.
To say that the styling is sexy is an understatement. The Machina does the fluid, streamlined look of the Tesla Model S one better. The glass roof panels are pillar to pillar—the full width—better than the Lucid Air. To call the full-across LED screen a dashboard is an injustice. The thin side mirrors and lack of doors add an air of mystery to the vehicle. But all that beauty must be preserved even when shoehorning a bulky hydrogen powerplant. Can there still be a comfortable amount of space for four adults?
This is where solid modeling comes in. With solid modeling and clash detection, the 3D shapes of the various components of the power train were placed and fitted with the care and precision of a Swiss watch—but without a single physical prototype. Apps that let designers, engineers and other stakeholders visualize the CAD data were also quite useful.
“Without the heavy weight of CAD data, we can collaborate,” says head designer Felix Goddard.
Why Not Hydrogen?
The success of Hopium (the name from the H for hydrogen plus opium?) is a matter of hope against headwinds. Hope for the public to realize that hydrogen is the ultimate clean burning fuel. The headwinds are many: a public deathly scared of hydrogen (more on that later), the lack of a hydrogen fueling infrastructure and, as with any big change, the stacked interests of threatened established businesses (primarily the oil and gas industry, automakers betting on internal combustion and their top contenders, electric vehicle companies).
The lack of hydrogen fueling stations is the reason most often cited for the disappointing sales of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the U.S. There are only 15,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on U.S. roads, most of them in California (California also leads the nation in EV sales), compared to 2.5 million electric vehicles2.
Only two hydrogen-powered vehicles are currently in production: the Hyundai Nexo SUV and the Toyota Mirai sedan. Toyota once stated that hydrogen was the fuel of the future but may have reconsidered with the introduction of its all-electric bZ4X SUV.
A Perfect Fuel with an Unforgettable Past
Hydrogen’s reaction with oxygen produces energy and water, making it the cleanest burning fuel imaginable. A perfect combustion process produces no pollutants whatsoever. Every other fuel we burn for energy is a hydrocarbon and releases carbon—and other pollutants—into the air.
If only we could produce hydrogen with less energy and at a lower expense.
If manufacturing costs weren’t enough to preclude hydrogen in energy discussions, there is hydrogen’s history. Hydrogen was involved in one notable disaster: the Hindenburg, a zeppelin, which exploded spectacularly into flames in 19373. An event that brought down the budding airship industry and has delayed the use of hydrogen as a mainstream fuel to this day.
A Racing Heritage
Olivier Lombard steps into the founder and CEO role at Hopium after earning serious automotive cred by racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans competition in 2011, where he finished 1st in his class and 8th overall.
Gallic Pride
In a show of faith, Frances’s Crédit Agricole, the country’s largest bank, has given Hopium a big vote of confidence by declaring its intention to by buy10,000 Machinas.
What a bank would do with so many luxury automobiles is but one question. We have more. How can Crédit Agricole be sure that the hydrogen this vehicle requires will be in plentiful supply all over France? How can the bank be so confident in the sales of hydrogen-powered cars when sales of such vehicles have faltered elsewhere—notably in the U.S.?
How Much?
The Machina is expected to sell for $118,000, according to an automotive publication. But put down your Platinum card. The cars are not expected to roll off the line until 2025.
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2. “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles: Everything You Need to Know,” John Voelecker, Car and Driver, September 26, 2022.
3. The explosive risk of hydrogen is largely overblown. Hydrogen burns with a soft blue flame and is a lot less dangerous than gasoline vapors. If it leaks, it's lighter than air, so the vapors rise up and away from potential ignition sources. Still, the Hindenburg did burn to the ground because it was filled with flammable gas and made for a popular meme.