Next-gen Hyundai fuel cell vehicle revealed

Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled its new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle at the CES 2018 expo in Las Vegas.

Called the Nexo, it’s designed on Hyundai’s new dedicated fuel cell SUV platform, unlike the previous Tuscon/ix35 Fuel Cell based on the internal combustion vehicle of the same name.

Hyundai promises 30% greater range over the previous ix35 FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle), reaching approximately 800km which the company says is 168km greater than before.

Nexo uses Hyundai’s most advanced fuel cell powertrain, reducing weight and size significantly over the previous mule. Hyundai has developed a world-first unified three-tank system which offers a completely flat floor. Previous drivetrains have used two larger tanks.

The advanced new fuel cell drivetrain has an industry-leading 30-second cold start capability, warming up faster than any previous version, capable at -30 degrees Celcius. It generates 120kW from a newer more powerful electric motor, including a 95kW fuel cell stack and a 40kWh battery offering a 9.5-second 0-100km/h sprint time.

Importantly, as the likes of Tesla handle numerous quality control complaints and criticisms, the Nexo, Hyundai claims, is tested and will be guaranteed for ten years and over 200,000km of durability.

Nexo will be available in “select markets” globally from early 2018, most likely California, Germany, Japan and the UK with existing hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

The Nexo will also provide a springboard for the company’s next wave of semi-autonomous driving technology developed with Aurora, promising its Level 4 autonomy by 2021.

Hyundai vice chairman Dr Woong-chul Yang says it’s a milestone moment for hydrogen fuel cell technology.

“Hydrogen energy is the key to building a more sustainable society,” he says.

“Hydrogen is generated from unlimited water from unlimited power resources, and powerplants that are run by hydrogen fuel.”

“As a pioneer of fuel cell electric vehicles we introduced the Tuscon hydrogen fuel cell vehicle into 18 countries. Today I am proud to introduce to you our next-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.”

Hyundai senior vice president Lee Ki-sang says the company has done a great deal in a short time.
“Hyundai developed the Ioniq platform in just five years, from the Sonata hybrid, to Ioniq, we are now ready to show how far our technology has advanced with the Nexo HFCV,” Ki-sang says.

“The world’s best fuel cell system efficiency is at 60% meaning a 40% increase in range over the previous Tuscon FCEV and refuelling takes just five minutes,” he says at today’s launch.
“We can offset inefficient SUV size and design by using highly efficient fuel cell drivetrain technology, with maximum power at 120kW, comparable with current internal combustion output.”

Ki-sang says he’s particularly proud of the compactness of the new fuel cell system which sees tanks relegated to under the boot space where a regular fuel tank would go.

“The amount of space that must be sacrificed to accommodate a HFCV drivetrain is a difficult challenge,” he says. “We developed a world first unified three-tank system offering a completely flat floor and the best interior space of any existing FCEV.”
“We will continue to make fuel cell technology smaller lighter, more efficient and more affordable, expanding in buses, trucks and more vehicles.”