NamX’s Hydrogen SUV Is Redefining Clean Mobility

The NamX car's designer, Thomas de Lussac, holds a refuelling capsule swapper. The NamX HUV is a hydrogen-powered SUV developed by the F...

The NamX car's designer, Thomas de Lussac, holds a refuelling capsule swapper.

The NamX HUV is a hydrogen-powered SUV developed by the Franco-Moroccan startup NamX (New Automotive and Mobility Exploration), in collaboration with the renowned Italian design firm Pininfarina and French designer Thomas de Lussac. It was first unveiled in May 2022 and later showcased at the 2022 Paris Motor Show. 

As the EV industry continues to grow, it is also facing real constraints: lithium and cobalt shortages, expensive battery production, and slow-developing charging networks. NamX’s designers are betting on a different path, developing a new type of vehicle powered by hydrogen with a range of up to 800 kilometres on a single full refill/swapping capsule cycle.  Hydrogen, the most abundant chemical element in the universe and the “H” in H₂O, offers a clean and eco-friendly alternative energy source.

For five years, the NamX teams have been working on the Premium hydrogen car concept.

Although hydrogen does not exist in its pure state, it is possible to extract it, notably thanks to renewable energies. Used as a raw material in the world of industry or the space sector, hydrogen has increasingly been used in recent years as a fuel in the transport sector. Hydrogen combustion was introduced in 1806 by Isaac de Rivaz, who first applied it to an aircraft. Since 2010, many companies have decided to invest in this resource. Buses, trains, bicycles, and even construction vehicles now run on hydrogen capsules. But how does a hydrogen car work? How does it compare to electric?

Clean-Energy Engineering

As a new car manufacturer on the market, NamX aims to bring new perspectives to the automotive world. X for exploration, X for experience. Our innovative concept aims to make green hydrogen accessible everywhere. Not only because it represents an undeniable alternative to fossil fuel vehicles, but above all because it is currently the cleanest solution available to the automotive sector. The goal is to build a Pr hydrogen car that overcomes the problems faced by the electric car. Fast and easy charging (less than 4 minutes), significantly increased road range, and the cleanest possible carbon footprint are our priorities. And they have all become reality with the hydrogen SUV.

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles have long promised zero-emission mobility.

The HUV stands out as one of the first premium-class hydrogen SUVs aiming to combine practicality, range, and sustainability. Rather than relying solely on a fixed hydrogen tank, the NamX HUV uses a dual hydrogen storage system: a conventional fixed tank plus a set of six removable “capsules” called “CapX.” This design allows for rapid refuelling or capsule swapping, addressing one of the main limitations of hydrogen mobility: scarce refuelling infrastructure. 

The hydrogen car is therefore completely green. It emits no pollutants and no fine particles. It is perfectly neutral in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

With both systems combined, the vehicle claims a driving range of up to 800 kilometres on a single full refill/swapping cycle. Powertrain options include a standard rear-wheel drive version with modest output and a high-performance all-wheel-drive “GTH” variant delivering around 542 horsepower (≈ 404 kW). In the highest trim the SUV accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 4.5 seconds, reaching a top speed around 155 mph (≈ 250 km/h). NamX plans to launch the NamX HUV for sale in late 2025, with pricing projected between €65,000 and €95,000, depending on trim and configuration. 

Why the NamX HUV

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles have long promised zero-emission mobility, yet widespread adoption has been hindered by refuelling infrastructure constraints and slow hydrogen dispensing times. The NamX HUV's swappable capsule system directly tackles these challenges by offering a modular and scalable refuelling approach. Drivers can theoretically replace empty capsules with full ones in a matter of minutes instead of waiting at a filling station. This architecture has earned recognition: the HUV won the Green Good Design Sustainability Award 2023 in the “Green Transportation” category, acknowledging its innovation and potential to reshape sustainable mobility. 

NamX’s Hydrogen SUV is parked next to a fuel-cell capsule swapping station.

NamX aims to prove that a hydrogen SUV can deliver both the comfort, design and road presence expected from a premium SUV and the environmental benefits of zero-emission propulsion. By combining a generous range with fast refillability and respectable performance, the HUV is designed to rival conventional internal-combustion SUVs and challenge purely battery-electric alternatives. Despite its innovative design and bold promise, the NamX HUV faces several realities typical of hydrogen mobility:

• Hydrogen infrastructure remains limited. Even with capsule swapping, the viability of hydrogen depends on enough refuelling or capsule-exchange stations being available in regions where the car is sold.
• Logistics and adoption complexity. The success of the capsule model hinges not only on the car itself but on an ecosystem of hydrogen production, distribution, and capsule recharge/exchange. Building such infrastructure is non-trivial and requires substantial investment.
• Market acceptance and cost. As a premium SUV with a relatively high price tag, early adopters may need to weigh the benefits against cost, availability of hydrogen, and competing technologies such as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).

The NamX HUV exemplifies a promising direction for hydrogen-powered mobility — one that emphasizes convenience, design, and environmental responsibility. If the capsule refuelling ecosystem scales effectively, hydrogen vehicles like the HUV could provide an appealing alternative to battery EVs, especially for drivers needing long range and rapid “refueling.”

Even if hydrogen adoption remains gradual, NamX’s approach helps expand the conceptual and technological envelope of sustainable automobiles. By tackling core challenges — range anxiety, refuelling infrastructure, and practicality — the HUV moves hydrogen mobility from niche experiments toward real-world viability.