King Mohammed VI of Morocco had unveiled the nation’s first hydrogen-powered vehicle at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Monday.
The unveiled car, known as the Hydrogen Utility Vehicle (HUV), was developed by Neo Motors, the first Moroccan-owned car company, and NamX, an automobile company based in Turin.
The president of NamX played a key role in creating the world’s first car with a patented removable hydrogen tank system. Additionally, the renowned Italian cCoachbuilder, Pininfarina, provided assistance in designing the hydrogen prototype.
The CEO of Neo Motors, Nassim Belkhayat and the president of NamX,Faouzi Annajah, presented the project aiming to enhance Morocco’s automotive production competitiveness. Morocco is currently the largest car manufacturer in Africa, and in September, 2022, the government made a commitment to double its electric car production capacity within a two-year time frame.
Scheduled for release in 2025, the HUV addresses the increasing worldwide demand for eco-friendly automobiles. Unlike electric vehicles that require hours to charge, hydrogen vehicles can be refueled within minutes. In addition to providing longer driving ranges compared to electric cars, hydrogen vehicles also tend to be more environmentally friendly.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama