While the focus globally is on electric vehicles, there has been a quiet performer achieving zero emission driving – hydrogen.

Brands such as Toyota, Honda and Hyundai all have hydrogen passenger vehicles for sale around the world, including New Zealand.

Late last year Hyundai New Zealand launched its Nexo hydrogen fuel cell SUV, after revealing it at Fieldays mid-2019.

Hyundai Motor actually began development of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) technology over 20 years ago, with the establishment of a dedicated research team in 1998.

It began with Project Mercury, a collaboration between Hyundai and United Technologies Corporation (UTC). A number of vehicles were developed during the collaboration, with system improvements in powertrain performance and increasing range capabilities culminating in the final vehicle, MercuryⅡ.  This was based on Hyundai’s Tucson platform with an 80kW fuel cell system, 337km range and the ability to start from temperatures as low as -20oC.

In 2000, Hyundai also launched the Polaris project in conjunction with the Korean Government’s G7 Project. The G7 Project was to close the technological gap that existed between Korea and other countries, specifically in the field of eco-innovation.

The Polaris project saw Hyundai independently develop complete fuel cell vehicle systems, which led to several project vehicles such as Polaris Ⅱ which showcased a Hyundai fuel cell system with an output of 80kW and a range of 370km.

By 2013, Hyundai became the first manufacturer to produce the ix35 Fuel Cell electric vehicle. The 100kW fuel cell system and 700bar storage produced a certified 594km range.

Two years later, the sales of the ix35 Fuel Cell were taking place across the world, including 13 countries in Europe. In the UK, 17 customers (from private companies, car sharing organisations and government agencies) became the first to drive hydrogen fuel cell cars. Across the European continent, the ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles on the road covered more than 1.2 million km’s.

Hyundai’s ongoing commitment to fuel cell development was shown in 2017, with the FE Fuel Cell concept that was shown at the Geneva motor show. Longer, lower and wider than the ix35 Fuel Cell, the FE (Future Eco) concept was shown as Hyundai’s Future Utility Vehicle (FUV) with a number of innovative vehicle technologies demonstrated alongside its powertrain. 

In 2018, Hyundai launched the Nexo, the only fuel cell SUV in the world. In comparison to the ix35 Fuel Cell, Nexo offers a 25 per cent faster acceleration rate, increased torque and 40 per cent more range. Its 135kW powertrain and three reinforced carbon fibre/plastic fuel tanks allow Nexo to deliver a range of 665km.

Hyundai Motor Group then announced its long-term roadmap ‘Fuel Cell Vision 2030’ to accelerate the development of a hydrogen society by leveraging the group’s global leadership in fuel-cell technologies.

Hyundai pledged to boost annual fuel-cell system production capacity to 700,000 units by 2030 and explore new business opportunities to supply fuel-cell systems to other transportation manufacturers of vehicles, drones, vessels, rolling stocks and forklifts. The demand for fuel-cell systems from sectors beyond transportation such as power generation and storage systems is also expected to emerge quickly.

In May 2019, the Hyundai Motor Group announced an investment of €80 million in Rimac and is also aiming to lead the high-performance electrified vehicle market. The companies have been working closely together to develop prototypes for both an electric version of Hyundai’s N brand mid-ship sports car and a high-performance fuel cell electric vehicle with the intent to bring them to market.

Long ranges and short refuelling times make hydrogen an attractive future source of energy for electric mobility. Key aspects for its future market success include the regenerative production of hydrogen and the establishment of a sufficient infrastructure.