Hyundai showcased its latest-generation hydrogen fuel-cell technology at the ‘Investing in Future Transport’ conference held at London’s City Hall.
In front of an audience of policy makers, investors and industry representatives, Dr. Sae Hoon Kim, Hyundai’s Principal Fuel Cell Research Engineer, explained the company’s strategy for sustainable future mobility, and presented the innovative zero-emission Hyundai ix35 fuel-cell electric vehicle.
The ix35 is the third-generation fuel-cell vehicle from Hyundai, and it presents a strong case for being a truly viable everyday car, retaining the safety, equipment, convenience and performance of the conventionally-powered ix35, yet producing zero exhaust emissions.
Equipped with a 100 kW fuel-cell stack and two hydrogen storage tanks, the ix35 FCEV can travel a total of 325 miles on a single refuelling and reach a maximum speed of 100mph.
Hyundai says it is the only automaker ready to commercialize its fuel-cell vehicle and plans to do so by the end of 2012 with an initial production run of 1,000 fuel cell vehicles.
The company will supply fuel-cell vehicles to government and private fleets leading up to mass production, scheduled for 2015.
Also present at the conference was Dr Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power, a company which – along with Hyundai – is involved in a ground-breaking project to ensure the UK is well positioned for the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. The programme – UKH2Mobility – brings together three Government departments and industrial participants from the utility, gas, infrastructure and global car manufacturing sectors to evaluate the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles in the UK.