Hyundai Motor's has announced its plan to launch a second-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicle early next year that will travel more than 580 kilometers between fill-ups under Korean standards.
The yet-to-be-named SUV shown at the special event previews Hyundai Motor’s second commercially produced hydrogen model and uses the company’s fourth generation of hydrogen fuel cell technology.
If delivered as promised, the new fuel cell model will travel 40 per cent further than its first generation fuel cell SUV, the Tucson ix FCEV, launched in 2013. Under European standards, Hyundai said the new vehicle can drive 800 kilometers.
The new model spearheads Hyundai Motor’s plans to accelerate development of low emission vehicles, in line with Hyundai Motor Group’s goal of introducing 31 eco-friendly models (Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors combined) to global markets by 2020.
“With exceptional efficiency, serene styling, and uncompromised performance, our next generation fuel cell SUV is the true epitome of an eco-friendly vehicle of the future,” said Lee Ki-sang, Senior Vice President of Hyundai Motor Group’s Eco Technology Center.
“Hyundai Motor will take lead in developing and producing green energy vehicles that would ultimately complement a near-zero emission society.”
Fuel cell cars, emission-free like pure electric cars, can be refueled in two to three minutes unlike electric vehicles that can take several hours to fully recharge. But the availability of hydrogen fueling stations is an obstacle for mass adoption.
Toyota, Honda and General Motors also are investing heavily in fuel cell technology but fuel cell cars are gaining less traction than electric vehicles, which can find charging stations more easily.
South Korea plans to increase the number of hydrogen fueling stations from 16 stations this year to 100 stations by 2020 to sharply raise sales of fuel cell vehicles.
The country is aiming to have 10,000 fuel cell vehicles on its roads by 2020 to help alleviate air pollution, its environmental ministry said in March. That would be a jump from just 121 fuel cell cars in 2016.
Currently there are no hydrogen refilling stations in New Zealand.
Hyundai Motor also plans to catch up in the eco-friendly car race with longer driving range electric vehicles.
It plans to launch an electric vehicle with a driving range of 500 kilometers after 2021. Before the third quarter next year, Hyundai also plan to release a small electric SUV with a driving range of 390 kilometers per charge.
In 2021, its luxury brand Genesis will unveil an electric vehicle model as well.
-Driven, AP