---
title: "This Beast of a Hydrogen-Powered Hypercar Has a 1,000 Mile Range"
description: "California-based car company Hyperion has unveiled the Hyperion XP-1, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered hypercar with a 1,000 mile range and a top speed of 221 mph. 0-to-60 mph in just 2.2 seconds. Those are without a doubt some impressive specs — but its main purpose isn’t to take on Tesla in a head to head. […]"
date: "2020-08-12"
modified: "2020-08-12"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/hydrogen-hypercar-hyperion-xp-1"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
tags:
  - "hydrogen car"
  - "hydrogen fuel cell"
  - "hyperion"
---

# This Beast of a Hydrogen-Powered Hypercar Has a 1,000 Mile Range

![Tech company Hyperion has unveiled the Hyperion XP-1, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered hypercar with an advertised 1,000 mile range and a top speed of 221 mph.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/hydrogen-hypercar-hyperion-xp-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Hyperion\</em\>*

California-based tech company Hyperion has unveiled the Hyperion XP-1, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered hypercar with an advertised 1,000 mile range and a top speed of 221 mph. It can launch from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.2 seconds.

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/hyperion_xp1_raceway_1-1440x960-1-1200x800.jpg>)

Those are without a doubt some impressive specs — but its main purpose isn't to take on Tesla in a head-to-head. It's to generate interest for hydrogen power, according to the company.

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/hyperion_xp1_raceway_12-1440x960-1-1200x800.jpg>)

"There are enough car companies," CEO Angelo Kafantaris [told *Car and Driver*](<https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33572419/2022-hyperion-xp-1-hydrogen-hypercar-specs/>). "We’re an energy company that’s building this car to tell a story."

Instead of relying on extremely heavy lithium ion battery packs, the XP-1 generates power from large tanks of hydrogen driving two powerful electric motors. Lower curb weight, more power and longer range.

Apart from the way it is currently generated — about [95 percent](<https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-fuel-basics#:~:text=Hydrogen%20can%20be%20produced%20from,power%20like%20solar%20and%20wind.&text=Today%2C%20hydrogen%20fuel%20can%20be,thermal%20process)%2C%20and%20electrolysis.>) of all hydrogen is produce from steam reforming of natural gas — hydrogen is also extremely environmentally friendly to use as a fuel source. The byproducts are literally just water and not greenhouse gases.

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/hyperion_xp1_exterior_1-1440x808-1-1200x673.jpg>)

Luckily, there are many ways to generate hydrogen as a fuel source. "You can make hydrogen from excess grid solar power," Kafantaris claimed. "Creating hydrogen is greener than making batteries."

Unfortunately, refueling hydrogen cars in 2020 is extremely difficult to do. In 2018, there were only [39 publicly available hydrogen stations](<https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/fact-month-18-01-january-29-there-are-39-publicly-available-hydrogen-fueling-stations#:~:text=As%20of%20January%2025%2C%202018,in%20the%20Northeast%20are%20planned.>) for fueling fuel cell vehicles in the United States.

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/hyperion_xp1_mood_studio_2-1440x960-1-1200x800.jpg>)

Hyperion wants to change that. The company claims it has plans to build out its own hydrogen-fueling station network similar to Tesla's Supercharger network.

The XP-1 will be expensive. Production will start in 2022 and only 300 of them will ever be made.

**READ MORE:** [The Hyperion XP-1 hypercar wants to give hydrogen a halo effect](<https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/08/meet-the-hyperion-xp-1-a-hydogen-powered-hypercar-to-educate-the-world/?comments=1>) \[*Ars Technica*\]

**More on hydrogen cars:** *[A Brief History of Elon Musk’s Festering Feud With Rival Automaker Nikola](<https://futurism.com/history-elon-musk-feud-rival-nikola>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
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