Japanese carmaker Lexus has developed a concept for a recreational off-highway vehicle with a combustion engine fueled by hydrogen instead of petrol.
The buggy has many of the hallmarks of a regular recreational off-highway vehicle (ROV), including exposed suspension and chunky tyres, but features Lexus' first hydrogen engine.
Lexus's ROV Concept vehicle features a dark bronze body and tubular black cage frame
According to the brand, the ROV Concept generates "near-zero emissions" through its use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel.
This is stored in a high-pressure tank at the rear of the vehicle, which is shielded by a sleek black protective cage and a lightweight dark-bronze body.
The vehicle is powered by a hydrogen combustion engine Unlike Lexus's LF-FC concept car from 2015, which is a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) powered by hydrogen, the ROV Concept sees hydrogen injected straight into the combustion chamber of a one-litre engine, which works exactly like that of a traditional fossil-fuel vehicle.
In a bid to appeal to automotive purists, Lexus says this preserves the engine tone and immediate responsiveness that can be lost with a battery-powered vehicle.
"Importantly, the new hydrogen engine produces close to zero emissions, with only a negligible amount of engine oil burned during driving," Lexus said.
The ROV Concept is designed to be driven on any terrain
The brand has not announced when a similar hydrogen-powered motor might be integrate...