translation of the original article
For Max Holthausen, engineer at Holthausen Clean Technology, the idea of building hydrogen cells in a Tesla was actually quite obvious. He says that the family business in which he works is specialized in sustainable gas and for a number of years they also supply hydrogen. "And I'm a real car crew," says the entrepreneur. One and one was two. But that's not easy, because Tesla's are packed with complex software. "There you have to make adjustments, because the car does not accept any power from an external source. That's a big maze," says Holthausen.
That's why it will take a while, before you can really test the prototype: its own used Tesla. Holthausen expects another month or two to be busy with it, because it really works.
60,000+ euros
The intention is to test a few thousand kilometers afterwards, and the company will also be able to offer the conversion service. According to Holthausen, there are a few interested, but they would rather not be the first. Logical so that he uses his own car as a guinea pig.
If you have already been able to pay a Tesla, you must be prepared to try again deeply in order to drive 1000 kilometers. It depends on how many hydrogen cells you end up with how expensive it gets, but the entrepreneur expects it to cost just 60,000 to 70,000 euros.
Suppose you have a Model S in the standard version, so your car will be almost twice as expensive. It costs 78,000 euros.
Approval of RDW
The entrepreneur does not think Tesla will be very excited when they get out of bed, but he is not awake. Before such a converted car is allowed, the RDW must first get approval.
That's fine, Holthausen thinks. Because his company already has experience with the integration of hydrogen cells. For example, in a bus of the company itself.
If everything goes by, you can see the first hydrogen Tesla on the Groningen roads early next year.