Australian hydrogen fuel-cell carmaker H2X Global has commenced European vehicle validation and verification testing of its Warrego ute in the Netherlands – ahead of first deliveries expected to commence in Europe inside the next nine months.
The company also said that Australian right-hand drive model testing will “commence soon”.
Melbourne-based H2X Global has ambitious plans to roll out hydrogen FCEV commercial vehicles around the globe. The Warrego is billed as a demonstration of its technological abilities, with hydrogen-fuelled delivery van and taxi models set to follow in its wheel-tracks by 2025.
As previously detailed in September 2021, deliveries of the H2X Warrego ute were originally intended to commence in April 2022. This didn’t eventuate though, due to supply chain issues.
“It is true that we have had some frustrating delays over the past nine months, however, we are now well on track with our roll out plans,” said H2X Global CEO and founder Brendan Norman.
“It is extremely satisfying that our team now have the Warrego running through the final stages its engineering, safety and on road verification program and production readiness.
“Supply chain issues, which have negatively impacted manufacturing companies worldwide, put us about nine months behind schedule, however, our production and engineering teams have done an amazing job to overcome these problems and we are now back on schedule.”
The H2X Warrego ute is based on the previous-generation Ford Ranger and has a hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) powertrain developed for light commercial vehicles, instead of the traditional internal-combustion engine (ICE).
The first release of the AWD Warrego is said to feature a 260kW electric motor, and a 60kW fuel-cell connected to a hybrid battery and supercapacitor electric drive system. Total system torque outputs are yet to be released.
Supercapacitors have previously been used in the limited-production Lamborghini Sian as an example, and provide a faster-discharging setup than traditional lithium-ion battery packs alone.
H2X claims the Warrego has a range of more than 450km, although it’s unclear which efficiency standard this is according to.
Back in September 2021, H2X confirmed the Warrego would be available in three trims and priced from $189,990 to $250,000 before on-road costs in Australia.
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Mr Norman said the focus of the first Warrego models is on the European market due to the wider availability of hydrogen refuelling stations and government support.
He continued by saying the Warrego is essentially a demonstrator vehicle for its hydrogen fuel-cell technology, which it will use in its upcoming Darling delivery van and taxi.
This H2X Darling commercial van and people mover is set to be released by the end of 2024 and will be built on a bespoke platform developed in partnership with KTM Technologies.
H2X Darling Taxi 
H2X Darling Delivery Van
“The Warrego is essentially a demonstration vehicle which we are able to offer to several customers in order to accelerate the availability of an AWD light commercial vehicles to customers, using a state-of-the-art Hybrid Hydrogen Fuel Cell System,” said Mr Norman.
“This application will be applied in a more optimised form in the Darling Delivery Van and Taxi/MPV targeted for release by the end of 2024 to support the large number of cities in Europe which will be closed off from Diesel and Petrol vehicles from 2025.”
Production of the H2X Warrego ute will be undertaken in Europe and in Australia at its facility in Sale, Victoria.
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