Presented at the VivaTech 2021 show, the Hopium Machina Alpha 0 had unleashed passions. Entirely designed and manufactured in the manufacturer’s laboratory, at the foot of the Montlhéry circuit, this car has the particularity of operating according to the principle of oxidation-reduction (dihydrogen H2 and dioxygen O2) in a fuel cell. The latter produces electricity which powers the motor, whose power is here increased to 500 hp. Above all, the fuel cell rejects only water, thus allowing zero local emissions.
Olivier Lombard, CEO of the Hopium brand, ex-winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LPM2, firmly believes in his project and, against all odds, has so far managed to respect the fixed schedule. Thus, the first French manufacturer of high-end hydrogen vehicles announces the deployment of its industrial site near Vernon, in Normandy. The land, with an area of 35 ha, located in the locality of Douains, will host the first production lines, which will be able to reach a capacity of 20,000 vehicles per year, as well as an R&D center.
The infrastructure will be commissioned at the end of 2024 for an inauguration scheduled for early 2025. The Vernon site will eventually employ more than 1,500 people across all of its divisions, and thus intends to contribute to the economic dynamism of the region.
An industrial revival?
“It is a major project that contributes to the industrial renewal of the countrysays Olivier Lombard. We have chosen Normandy, a territory which we believe has all the assets to host the manufacture of the future, starting with its unique geographical position between Paris and the Channel, reinforced by the Seine Axis, its industrial basin and its fabric of innovations of great richness in which we are part. This step should lead to the launch of the first Hopium Machina models on the market at the end of 2025.”
The president of the Normandy region, Hervé Morin, is delighted: “Normandy, a leading industrial region, is a pioneer in the development of the hydrogen sector. Nearly a third of national hydrogen consumption takes place in Normandy, particularly in the chemicals and petrochemicals sector, as well as in the aerospace sector through the presence of the Ariane Group test site […] The region is already a leader in hydrogen mobility.”
The French government has adopted a plan of 7 billion euros staggered until 2030 for the hydrogen sector, with a planned network of 1000 charging stations.
There are already 1000 reservations for the Hopium Machina. The model will be presented in Paris at the Mondial de l’auto, which will be held from October 17 to 23, 2022.