Automakers unveils striking new SUV powered by futuristic fuel source: 'Might be the coolest … we've ever seen'
South Korean automaker Hyundai has unveiled a new version of its hydrogen-powered Nexo SUV. With its sleek, futuristic looks, it's certainly a head-turner.
In a preview, Car and Driver said that it "might be the coolest FCEV [fuel cell electric vehicle]" the publication had ever seen.
It's not just about aesthetics; the new version represents a substantial performance upgrade from the older model. While the engine is much more powerful, Autocar India reported that its most impressive feature is its range.
Internal testing by Hyundai has found that its larger hydrogen tank could keep the engine running for 435 miles (700 kilometers). It's not the quickest of cats, accelerating from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 7.8 seconds, but that's a pretty marked improvement from the older model's sluggish 9.2 seconds.
Hydrogen cars offer several significant advantages. First, like electric vehicles, they do not produce any harmful emissions. With hydrogen-powered cars, the only byproduct is water vapor. Also, like electric vehicles, hydrogen cars are easier and cheaper to maintain.
Hydrogen can provide better fuel economy than a gas-powered car. So why aren't hydrogen-powered cars receiving the same level of attention as electric vehicles?
The main issue is a lack of infrastructure, with few hydrogen-fueling stations worldwide. Additionally, hydrogen is expensive and is typically made by utilizing non-renewable natural gas. It's also very difficult to store and transport.
For almost all American consumers, the Nexo is a no-go unless they live in California. Due to a lack of fueling infrastructure, the previous-generation Nexo was only sold in limited numbers in the Golden State. This time around, because of supply-chain uncertainties and tariffs on automobile imports, it's unlikely the car will reach American shores.
However, the world's largest car market, China, is much better-positioned to make the most of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you?
Cost
Battery range
Power and speed
The way it looks
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
According to Fuel Cell Works, there are over 500 hydrogen fueling stations in China, while South Korea has around 200. In April, one was opened on Jeju Island, a popular vacation and honeymoon destination.
While there won't be many hydrogen-powered cars on American roads, they will offer an essential alternative in better-suited markets around the world. The future is likely to be electric, but hydrogen-powered cars are a promising alternative bet as well.
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What it would take to convert a jet from Qatar into Air Force One to safely fly Trump
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump really wants to fly on an upgraded Air Force One — but making that happen could depend on whether he's willing to cut corners with security. As government lawyers sort out the legal arrangement for accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family, another crucial conversation is unfolding about modifying the plane so it's safe for the American president. Installing capabilities equivalent to the decades-old 747s now used as Air Force One would almost certainly consign the project to a similar fate as Boeing's replacement initiative, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers Thursday that those security modifications would cost less than $400 million but provided no details. Satisfying Trump's desire to use the new plane before the end of his term could require leaving out some of those precautions, however. 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Testifying before Congress this week, Meink discounted such estimates, arguing that some of the costs associated with retrofitting the Qatari plane would have been spent anyway as the Air Force moves to build the long-delayed new presidential planes, including buying aircraft for training and to have spares available if needed. In response, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., said that based on the contract costs for the planes that the Air Force is building, it would cost about $1 billion to strip down the Qatar plane, install encrypted communications, harden its defenses and make other required upgrades. James said simply redoing the wiring means 'you'd have to break that whole thing wide open and almost start from scratch." Trump, as commander in chief, could waive some of these requirements. He could decide to skip shielding systems from an electromagnetic pulse, leaving his communications more vulnerable in case of a disaster but shaving time off the project. 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Hamilton Spectator
39 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
What it would take to convert a jet from Qatar into Air Force One to safely fly Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump really wants to fly on an upgraded Air Force One — but making that happen could depend on whether he's willing to cut corners with security. As government lawyers sort out the legal arrangement for accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family, another crucial conversation is unfolding about modifying the plane so it's safe for the American president. Installing capabilities equivalent to the decades-old 747s now used as Air Force One would almost certainly consign the project to a similar fate as Boeing's replacement initiative, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns . Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers Thursday that those security modifications would cost less than $400 million but provided no details. Satisfying Trump's desire to use the new plane before the end of his term could require leaving out some of those precautions, however. A White House official said Trump wants the Qatari jet ready as soon as possible while adhering to security standards. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not provide details on equipment issues or the timeline. Trump has survived two assassination attempts , and Iran allegedly also plotted to kill him, so he's well aware of the danger he faces. However, he seems willing to take some chances with security, particularly when it comes to communications. For example, he likes to keep his personal phone handy despite the threat of hacks. He boasted this week that the government got the jet 'for free,' saying, 'We need it as Air Force One until the other ones are done.' Here's a look at what it would take to make the Qatari plane into a presidential transport: What makes a plane worthy of being Air Force One? Air Force One is the call sign for any plane that's carrying the president. The first aircraft to get the designation was a propeller-powered C-54 Skymaster, which ferried Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945. It featured a conference room with a bulletproof window. Things are a lot more complicated these days. Boeing has spent years stripping down and rebuilding two 747s to replace the versions that have carried presidents for more than three decades. The project is slated to cost more than $5.3 billion and may not be finished before Trump leaves office. A 2021 report made public through the Freedom of Information Act outlines the unclassified requirements for the replacement 747s under construction. At the top of the list — survivability and communications. The government decided more than a decade ago that the new planes had to have four engines so they could remain airborne if one or two fail, said Deborah Lee James, who was Air Force secretary at the time. 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Testifying before Congress this week, Meink discounted such estimates, arguing that some of the costs associated with retrofitting the Qatari plane would have been spent anyway as the Air Force moves to build the long-delayed new presidential planes, including buying aircraft for training and to have spares available if needed. In response, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., said that based on the contract costs for the planes that the Air Force is building, it would cost about $1 billion to strip down the Qatar plane, install encrypted communications, harden its defenses and make other required upgrades. James said simply redoing the wiring means 'you'd have to break that whole thing wide open and almost start from scratch.' Trump, as commander in chief, could waive some of these requirements. He could decide to skip shielding systems from an electromagnetic pulse, leaving his communications more vulnerable in case of a disaster but shaving time off the project. After all, Boeing has already scaled back its original plans for the new 747s. Their range was trimmed by 1,200 nautical miles, and the ability to refuel while airborne was scrapped. Paul Eckloff, a former leader of protection details at the Secret Service, expects the president would get the final say. 'The Secret Service's job is to plan for and mitigate risk,' he said. 'It can never eliminate it.' If Trump does waive some requirements, James said that should be kept under wraps because 'you don't want to advertise to your potential adversaries what the vulnerabilities of this new aircraft might be.' It's unlikely that Trump will want to skimp on the plane's appearance. He keeps a model of a new Air Force One in the Oval Office, complete with a darker color scheme that echoes his personal jet instead of the light blue design that's been used for decades. What happens next? Trump toured the Qatari plane in February when it was parked at an airport near Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort. Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Allvin was there, too. The U.S. official said the jet needs maintenance but not more than what would be expected of a four-engine plane of its complexity. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it would be irresponsible to put the president and national security equipment aboard the Qatari plane 'without knowing that the aircraft is fully capable of withstanding a nuclear attack.' 'It's a waste of taxpayer dollars,' she said. Meanwhile, Boeing's project has been hampered by stress corrosion cracks on the planes and excessive noise in the cabins from the decompression system, among other issues that have delayed delivery, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last year. Boeing referred questions to the Air Force, which said in a statement that it's working with the aircraft manufacturer to find ways to accelerate the delivery of at least one of the 747s. Even so, the aircraft will have to be tested and flown in real-world conditions to ensure no other issues. James said it remains to be seen how Trump would handle any of those challenges. 'The normal course of business would say there could be delays in certifications,' she said. 'But things seem to get waived these days when the president wants it.' ___ AP writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Beloved beer brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The Great Beerpocalypse, the economic downturn affecting the craft beer industry since the Covid-19 pandemic, continues to claim victims as brewers shut down taprooms and breweries and sometimes file for bankruptcy. American craft brewers produced 23.1 million barrels of beer in 2024, which was a 3.9% decrease from 2023, according to the Brewers Association's Annual Craft Brewing Industry Production Report that was updated on May 6. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter The report revealed that 2024 was the first year since 2005 that the number of breweries closing outpaced brewery openings nationwide, as 430 new breweries opened, while 529 closed. Related: Another popular furniture retailer files Chapter 11 bankruptcy The good news for the industry was that the total number of breweries increased to 9,922 in 2024 from 9,838 in 2023. While openings declined four consecutive years, the closure rate was considered low at about 5%. Craft breweries that closed businesses without filing for bankruptcy included Sacramento-based brewery and taproom chain Device Brewing Company, which shut down all of its locations on April 27 after a landlord filed a lawsuit against the company over $23,000 in unpaid rent. The brewery did not reveal a reason for shutting down its three brewery taproom locations. Atlanta-area craft brewery Jekyll Brewing, which operated four locations in Georgia and one in Florida, closed all of its locations at the end of business on May 11. The brewer's owner Michael Lundmark confirmed the closure of all Jekyll Brewing locations in a post on Atlanta Beer Society's members-only Facebook page, TheStreet's Daniel Kline reported. Craft breweries filed for bankruptcies as well, as La Vista, Neb., beer brand Nebraska Brewing Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 28, 2025, to implement a strategic restructuring, facing uncertain times and economic and supply chain issues. Award-winning craft brewery The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on April 29 to liquidate its assets and shut down its business permanently. The brewery's owner, Paul Philippon, did not state a specific reason for closing down his business in a Facebook post where he thanked his customers. Finally, MurphDog LLC, which owns Ironmonger Brewing Company's brewery, taproom, and axe-throwing range, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to reorganize its business, facing financial distress. Related: Another major trucking company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The Marietta, Ga.-based brewer filed its Subchapter V petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia on June 5, listing up to $50,000 in assets and $1 million to $10 million in liabilities, including over $988,000 owed to insider Doug Bippert and over $885,000 owed to Tom Larsen for loans and unpaid compensation. More bankruptcy: Iconic auto repair chain franchise files Chapter 11 bankruptcyPopular beer brand closes down and files Chapter 7 bankruptcyPopular vodka and gin brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The debtor operated a craft brewery, a taproom, a distillery business, and a recreational axe-throwing range. It is unclear if Ironmonger continues to operate. Ironmonger's phone line was not operating, and its website was disabled on June 6. Tripadvisor listed Ironmonger as permanently closed, while Yelp listed the business as closed also on June 6. The company, founded in 2016, brewed several types of beer with unique names, including Zero Mile Pilsner, You Have Feelings IPA, Murph Dog Irish Red for St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, Billet, Et Tu Juiceous, Too Legit to Wit, and Me Seek Porter. Ironmonger Brewering's cans of beer were available at Total Wine & More, Grapes & Grains locations, and other stores in Georgia. Related: Major health care provider files for Chapter 7 liquidation The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
