“Design can no longer be the same. It must redefine itself as a socially engaged and ecological practice, as a project for alternative futures.” These words by Colucci Memo resonate in my mind as I look at the renderings of the H-move, a vehicle that perfectly embodies his vision.
Colucci, whom Futuro Prossimo had the pleasure of meeting in the recent past, represents an Italian excellence in the field of sustainable design; one of those minds that we are pleased to consider part of the future of our country. His philosophy of Energy Design is not a mere stylistic exercise but an approach that transcends the traditional concept of design. And H-move is yet another example.
Hydrogen as a technology of hope
For Colucci, inspired by the theories of Tomas Maldonado and from his book “La speranza progettuale”, design must overcome that impulse that has led to the unlimited proliferation of products, the multiplication of inequalities and the exhaustion of resources.
“Design represents a method of hope for the future,” Colucci explains to us
“It is only necessary to orient its function towards an organized approach on essential themes including mobility, energy, food, health and sustainability in general. Now too often it is self-referential and aimed at the continuous production of attractive products to be introduced into the consumer society.”
His approach perfectly embodies Lavoisier's principle, which someone has summarized as "Nothing is created, nothing is destroyed, everything is transformed", proposing a design that studies systems and products for human life capable of overcoming the concept of indiscriminate consumption.
And it is precisely in this context that it was born H-move: not yet another “eco-friendly” vehicle that replicates outdated models, but a radical rethinking of urban mobility through hydrogen. Why hydrogen? Because it is the ideal fuel from many points of view. It boasts the cleanest and most efficient combustion, and is able to produce electricity (which in turn can help generate more hydrogen), thus creating a renewable and environmentally friendly energy cycle.
H-move, when design becomes a system
H-move It presents itself as a lightweight quadricycle (category L7e) powered by a hydrogen fuel cell combined with a buffer battery. The range of 150-200 kilometers in urban areas is exactly what is needed to move efficiently in the city: no amazing promises destined to be shattered by everyday reality. The maximum speed of 90 km/h, optimized for urban use, is perfectly suited to the context in which it is intended to operate.
“The H-Move project evokes the first examples of a four-wheeled vehicle,” Colucci reveals. “If we take the old Land Rover as an example, it was a vehicle suitable for working in the fields but also capable of carrying 7 or 9 people, it could be uncovered or protected by a roof and could be transformed in a few minutes of work. Now, if we also insert aerodynamics and pedestrian safety into that old concept, we obtain a flexible, modular and metamorphic vehicle.”
What makes this project really interesting is its deeply modular nature. The chassis, a load-bearing structure in aluminum and composites, is designed with quick hooks for different rear modules, transforming the vehicle according to specific needs.
“It is not a product that is continuously renewable in terms of design,” continues Colucci, “it is about buying a 'Lego' type module that can be transformed to meet the needs of modern mobility. Everyone would like a fast vehicle, with load capacity and suitable for a bit of everything, especially one that can also be used in old historic villages, allowing you to get anywhere.”
I particularly like this feature, because it allows you to have a Cargo Module with a tipping rear body capable of carrying up to 300 kg, a Passenger Form with additional seats, a Fridge Module for the transport of food, or even a Promotional Module with LED display. And so on, as an open platform, for other new and possible needs.
Inspiration from nature for a holistic design
What has always struck me about Colucci’s philosophy (and resonates with all the themes we discuss here) is his reference to nature as a design model. “Every product created by man is based on the morphology of the human body with a brain and some organs of movement,” he explains.
“but if man had defined the study of plants as a method he would have had a different approach. The plant does not have a single brain, has several branches and many leaves that work together for the survival of the genus. A metamorphic vehicle must follow this example, It must not be an extension of our body but must adapt to the context and needs of modern mobility by being able to count on extended elements and technologies.”
This vision biomimetics perfectly represents Colucci's holistic approach: a system that adapts and transforms, reducing the proliferation of specific means and optimizing resources and urban space.
H-move, from vision to Gigafactory
Colucci's vision is not limited to vehicles. The Gigafactory project From Noraof which I spoke to you last summer, represents an extension of the same philosophy to the manufacturing sector. This innovative facility will produce electrolysers to create green hydrogen through the electrolysis of water, as well as produce components for fuel cells.
“In the case of De Nora, the door was open!” Colucci confides to me. “The choice to embrace the values of sustainability was shared because it was already in the spirit of the company. By now, the principles of sustainability and environmental protection must be part of the working method, of our education.”
The building itself is conceived as a tangible manifestation of the principles of Energy Design. Photovoltaic system, geothermal air conditioning systems and walls treated with photocatalytic paints to absorb pollution. A partially green roof that optimizes thermal insulation, a bio-lake that absorbs excess water. Future friendly, if you'll pardon the term.
“If we exclude what happened in the last century,” Colucci reflects, “humankind has always acted with respect for nature, even the old factories were built on water and could count on power from mills and a network of river transport. Today we can still count on water and also on the wind for natural ventilation, on the sun for photovoltaic power. If we approach the project by enhancing the surfaces capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and reflecting the sun's rays, enhancing exposure and orientation, the design gesture towards sustainability is complete”.
A concrete technology for real problems
Returning to H-move, I'll add some more data to make you understand that this is not a flight of fancy: the vehicle integrates electric hub motors on the rear wheels, a 2-5 kW low-pressure fuel cell and a 5-10 kWh battery. Refueling takes place via a nozzle compatible with urban H2, with the possibility of replacing the cylinder.
The uses? They range from last-mile logistics to public services, from sharing to corporate fleets. It is a vehicle designed to respond to concrete needs, not to amaze with useless performance in an urban context. And this is perfectly in line with Colucci's philosophy, for which design must serve humanity, not the other way around.
While the world is rushing after pure electric as the only solution (with all the problems of raw material supply that entails), H-move can demonstrate that there are concrete alternatives and, perhaps, more sustainable in the long term. Hydrogen is not just a fuel but a different energy paradigm that, combined with modularity, offers a tangible response to the challenges of urban mobility.
As he said Ernst Bloch, often quoted by Colucci: “Thinking means going beyond.” And with H-move we are definitely going beyond the limits of conventional mobility towards a future where design, sustainability and functionality are no longer separate concepts but different faces of the same revolution.
The work of Colucci Memo is a concrete example of how design can and must become a tool for social and ecological transformation. And in H-move this design “puts on wheels” and walks. It is not just a vehicle: it is a self-propelled manifesto of a possible and, above all, desirable future.
