Hyundai is in the midst of an electric renaissance and if the Vision 74 concept shows us what lies ahead, the future is very desirable.
Hydrogen electric vehicles aren’t particularly desirable, or at least they weren’t (yes, we’re talking about you, the Toyota Mirai). However, hydrogen combined with an electric battery is a very serious alternative to traditional heat engines.
Say hello concept Hyundai N Vision 74, a hydrogen electric vehicle intended to combine the power and performance of electric cars with a range of liquid fuels. Hyundai’s N sub-brand, dedicated to the design of sports cars, has been working on prototypes powered by electric motor and hydrogen engine for seven years, and the project is starting to bear fruit. The N Vision 74 aims to solve the biggest problem with high-performance electric cars: the lack of range. This is what the team Hyundai calls a ” hydrogen hybrid “.
580 hp of power
With only 4.2 kg of hydrogen on board and a fully charged 62.4 kWh battery, Hyundai claims the N Vision 74 has a range of over 600km when driven at low speed. It is necessarily much less when driving faster, because the two rear electric motors suck up electrons more than 580 hp / 500 kW and 664 newton meters (Nm) of torque. That’s enough to give the coupe a top speed of over 250 km/h and the ability to hit 100 km/h in four seconds.
In addition to increasing range, the hydrogen fuel cell also reduces charging time to just five minutes. The battery, meanwhile, is capable of recharging at 800 volts, which should make it possible to do a 10% to 80% charge in less than 18 minutes, based on production Hyundai electric cars with technology. similar battery. The hydrogen fuel cell can produce a maximum of 95 kW of power to power the motors directly.
A hydrogen fuel cell, a large battery and two motors in the back
The hydrogen fuel cell is located under the hood, while two hydrogen storage tanks are installed in the trunk. The T-shaped battery is integrated behind and between the two seats, allowing the heaviest component to be in the center of the car for better weight distribution.
Whatever the source, the power is transmitted to two motors installed on the rear axle, one for each rear wheel. To keep the hydrogen fuel cell, battery and motors cool, the N Vision 74 has three separate cooling circuits serving each system separately. You won’t be doing a Paris-Nantes, the goal here is for the car to complete a full lap of the tough Nürburgring Nordschleife without overheating or reducing power.
Very cool look
As cool as those numbers are, nothing is as cool as the looks of this car. Inspired by the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe concept designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the N Vision 74 looks like asupercarfrom the 70s.
Some will see the Lancia 037, others the DeLorean DMC-12, with massive side air intakes and a huge rear spoiler. Hyundai N has installed 20-inch front wheels and 21-inch turbine-style rear wheels, the latter have been wrapped in what must be the widest tires ever fitted to a Hyundai. Finally, we appreciate the pixelated headlights, like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which give it a real retro-futuristic look.
Hyundai does not talk about the future of the N Vision 74. We imagine that the underlying technology could be used in a future vehicle and that this car. Hydrogen fuel cell or not, we desperately want this car to make it to production one way or another.
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