Hyundai Motor Co., Korea’s top carmaker, has completed the development of a new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, advancing its entry into the green car market. The model, Tucson ix hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, will be tested next year, the company said Sunday.
Hyundai Tucson ix FCEV is the latest in the firm’s green car lineup following the first-generation Santa Fe FCEV introduced in 2000 and second-generation Tucson hybrid FCEV in 2008.
Improvements also include a 15 percent higher fuel efficiency, which enables the car to run 31 kilometers per liter.Hyundai Motor Group, which owns Hyundai and Kia Motors Corp., has introduced various electric vehicles including the Elec-City, BlueOn and i10 and other hydrogen cars such as Kia’s Mohave.
In March, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Mohave fuel-cell vehicles finished a 2,655-kilometer course in the Hydrogen Road Tour organized by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Caught in the green fuels frenzy which has engulfed the automotive industry, South Korean manufacturer Hyundai announced today the start of a trial program for a "Hyundai Tucson" model fitted with a fuel cell drive train.
Officially, the model is called Tucson ix FCEV. According to Hyundai, the model, whose drivetrain comprises a 100kW fuel cell system and two hydrogen storage tanks, can operate at temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius.
Fuel cells are probably one of the most effective ways to build an electric vehicle.
The Hyundai Tucson ix FCEV is the latest in the firm’s green car line-up following the first-generation Santa Fe FCEV introduced in 2000 and second-generation Tucson hybrid FCEV in 2008.
The fuel-cell system has been modularised, reducing the size 20% from the previous version to match conventional petrol engines. Hyundai and affiliate Kia have been testing 66 hydrogen-based vehicles in Korea and abroad. In March, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Mohave fuel-cell vehicles finished a 2,655km course in a hydrogen road tour organised by the US department of energy.