Hydrogen power for tough tow tug?

Hyundai has signed a deal to investigate supplying its advanced hydrogen fuel-cell technology to power the upcoming INEOS Grenadier off-roader that goes on sale in 2021.

According to the new arrangement, the Korean car-maker will also help the fledging 4x4-maker develop new ways to produce and distribute hydrogen.

INEOS is a multinational chemical company and reportedly already produces around 300,000 tons of hydrogen annually as a byproduct of its chemical manufacturing division.

It also has plenty of expertise in storing and transporting the potentially explosive fuel, but only limited experience supplying hydrogen in an automotive context, hence the need for Hyundai's help.

It's believed the arrangement will also give INEOS engineers access to Hyundai's next-generation fuel-cell technology that will power the new Hyundai Nexo passenger car.

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The Korean auto giant has confirmed testing of hydrogen-powered Grenadier prototypes will begin soon.

The shift to hydrogen is likely to be in response to combustion-powered vehicle bans in many European countries, including the UK that will forbid the sale of petrol and diesels by 2030 and petrol or diesel plug-in hybrids by 2035.

Before then, INEOS has already confirmed its tough, rugged Land Rover Defender alternative will launch in 2021 with BMW-sourced inline six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines that will be combined with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission that incorporates a high- and low-speed transfer case.

Before its launch, INEOS Automotive has confirmed it will test its debut model, the INEOS Grenadier, in Australia and New Zealand with a 100-plus range of prototypes set to cover around 1.8 million kilometres ahead of its launch later in 2021.