Volkswagen has released plans to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology in vehicles, according to Ecoticias.
The automaker recently submitted a patent for a vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell stack that could reach a range of 1,243 miles.
The technology, developed jointly with German company Kraftwerk Tubes, would substitute the polymer membrane that Toyota and Hyundai currently use with a less expensive ceramic membrane. Additionally, it would allow vehicle owners to switch from gasoline to hydrogen without a conversion kit.
Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer has claimed that hydrogen may be a more cost-effective alternative to battery-electric vehicles, particularly for passenger cars. With this technology currently still being developed, however, the automaker isn’t dismissing plans to continue with EV production.
