Renault previews hydrogen-powered concept car

Renault has teased its upcoming hydrogen-powered concept car, set to be officially revealed in May.

Details of the as-yet unnamed concept car are unknown, although Renault's choice of words to say it is powered by a hydrogen engine rather than an electric motor suggests this could be an internal combustion engine (ICE) which uses hydrogen in place of fossil fuels, rather than electric vehicle relying on a fuel cell.

Electric vehicles have received a big push from automotive manufacturers over the past year, with nearly every brand announcing fully-electric strategies.

However, more and more manufacturers are coming around to the idea of hydrogen as a zero-emissions alternative.

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Renault's new-look logo will adorn the front of the concept car

If implemented in Renault's concept car, it won't be the first time we've seen such technology – Toyota is currently developing and racing cars in Japan which utilise ICEs converted to run on hydrogen, although it hasn't been adopted in production vehicles just yet.

For exterior styling, the concept seems to borrow some cues from its Mégane E-Tech Electric, including the thin LED lights, while the daytime running lights in the bumper are unlike any in Renault's current range.

We can also see traditional side mirrors replaced by a set of cameras, making for a more slimline look, while also reducing drag – a crucial element to new car design, electric or not.

Renault has recently trademarked hydrogen-related logos for its upcoming vehicles, with 'Renault H2-Tech' hinting at a potential hydrogen-only range of cars, set to be sold alongside the fully-electric E-Tech range.

The French manufacturer has previously announced its commitment to 100 per cent EV sales in Europe by 2030, however it's not known whether this would be altered to cover all zero-emissions vehicles rather than putting all of its eggs in the EV basket.