Hydrogen

Audi is developing 12 electric vehicles for launch by 2025, but the luxury marque will also up its investment in hydrogen fuel cell development. Bram Schot, Audi's CEO, has told Autocar the company wants to speed up development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as the company harbours some fears about the supply of batteries and other vital EV components, but remains committed to emissions-free driving.

Albert Biermann, the recently appointed head of research and development for the Hyundai Motor Group, told reporters the company was planning a "surprise" at next week's Detroit motor show.

A new inquiry into the use of automation in mass-transit systems around Australia has been announced, as the Infrastructure, Transport and Cities Committee looks to make public transport "better, stronger and faster" going forward. The inquiry, which will also investigate the role new fuel sources like hydrogen and electric power can play on road, rail and point-to-point delivery vehicles going forward, is accepting submissions until December 7, 2018.

Hyundai says that hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles have proven to be the ultimate solution to the future of transportation, with pure battery electric vehicles better suited to smaller cars and suburban needs. Hyundai unveiled its latest hydrogen-powered vehicle with the Nexo SUV this week, which has an 800-kilometre range courtesy of three hydrogen tanks that take just five minutes to refill – a significant advantage over pure battery electric vehicles.

Toyota is putting its Project Portal fuel-cell truck through its paces, as the company looks to better understand the role of zero-emissions powertrains in future heavy haulers. The truck, first announced in April, will be used to haul goods around the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California.