A pioneer in luxury car manufacturing, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is considering a strategic shift in its powertrain technology. The company's CEO, Torsten Müller-Tvös, recently said that traditional battery electric vehicles (BEVs) may soon be replaced by fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) once the technology becomes more advanced.

      At a motor show in Italy, the CEO discussed the potential of hydrogen as a future energy source. Müller-Tvös described the use of hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative form of battery technology, but noted that such a transition depends on the maturity of FCEVs before it can proceed. This would mark a major shift in the company's development as the brand could "get out of batteries" and move to hydrogen fuel cells.

      Among its latest launches, Rolls-Royce unveiled its first all-electric car, the Specter. It is powered by a 120kWh battery, the largest in the automotive industry. However, the CEO pointed out that due to the unique positioning and usage patterns of Rolls-Royce cars, hydrogen may be considered as an alternative fuel source.

Despite discussions around hydrogen, Müller-Tvös ruled out investments in hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICEs). Having tested the technology for BMW years ago, he said the technology didn't take full advantage of hydrogen's potential.

      BMW recently unveiled its iX5 Hydrogen, a fuel cell vehicle prototype, demonstrating the technological maturity of fuel cell systems, which according to Müller-Tvös is promising, noting that Rolls-Royce cars are not typically used in long trip.

      However, the CEO acknowledged that there are significant obstacles to hydrogen propulsion: unlike established charging networks, there is currently a lack of robust hydrogen infrastructure. Many Rolls-Royce owners already have a home charging system, making BEVs a convenient option. Despite these challenges, Rolls-Royce is keeping a close eye on the development of hydrogen fueling infrastructure, opening the door to a future where luxury and hydrogen fuel cells go hand in hand.

     On June 14, at the award ceremony of Gaogong's "2023 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Industry TOP50", Qingneng won the honor of TOP50 Fuel Cell Stack for its industry-leading technical strength and diversified industrial application experience.