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Gumpert Readies Methanol Fuel Cell-Powered Supercar
The $455,000 Nathalie has a 500-mile range and can rocket from zero to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds
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Gumpert Aiways, a German-Chinese startup led by former Audi engineering guru Roland Gumpert, plans to launch its $455,000 fuel cell-powered Nathalie supercar early next year.
An updated version of the 2018 concept was unveiled this week. Production will be limited to 500 units.
Methanol Power
The car’s unique 15-kW fuel cell stack converts methanol into hydrogen to generate electricity. This eliminates the need to create a separate hydrogen refueling infrastructure, as is required with current fuel cell cars.
Instead, the Nathalie can run on commercially available methanol. Gumpert says the car’s 17.2-gallon tank can be refueled in three minutes to provide a 510-mile range.
As for its supercar bona fides, Nathalie’s four electric motors generate a combined 536 hp and can propel the vehicle from zero to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds. Top speed is listed at 186 mph.
The car’s lightweight design teams carbon fiber with flax-based biomaterials. New features added since the 2018 concept include scissor-styled upward opening doors.
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