Hyundai partners European initiative to fuel hydrogen-powered mobility

Hyundai Motor aims to deliver 75 units of its pioneering hydrogen-powered ix35 Fuel Cell as part of the largest ever pan-European fuel-cell passenger car project.

The Hydrogen For Innovative Vehicles (HyFIVE) project, funded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, will see deliveries made in Bolzano, Copenhagen, Innsbruck, London, Munich and Stuttgart.

President of Hyundai Motor Europe, Byung Kwon Rhim attended the April 3 launch of the new initiative at London’s City Hall, and set out the company’s commitment to developing and delivering mobility solutions that are innovative and sustainable.

Hyundai Motor is the world’s first car manufacturer to assembly-line build hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. As part of the project, the existing pan-European re-fuelling infrastructure will be expanded significantly, providing greater choice and convenience to early adopters of fuel cell electric vehicle technology.

President Rhim, on the launch of the project in London, commented: “Hyundai Motor has been a world leader in the development of hydrogen fuel-cell technology since 1998, and this latest partnership will help to further raise awareness of hydrogen power as a long-term transport solution. By delivering more vehicles for use on Europe’s roads, we will work with the other project partners to advance the awareness, understanding, viability and uptake of vehicles such as ix35 Fuel Cell.”

The multi-million Euro HyFIVE project is being managed by the Greater London Authority. Partners include vehicle manufacturers BMW, Daimler, Honda and Toyota, and industrial gas companies Air Products, Copenhagen Hydrogen Network, ITM Power, Linde and OMV. Other signatories include energy consultancies and the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.

In total, the project aims to deliver 110 fuel-cell vehicles from the five manufacturers, including 75 from Hyundai Motor.

Hyundai Motor has already supplied examples of the ix35 Fuel Cell to customers in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and the UK. The ix35 Fuel Cell emits only water from its tailpipe and is fitted with a 100 kW (138bhp) electric motor, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 99mph/158kph. A pair of hydrogen tanks, located between the vehicle’s rear wheels, enable the vehicle to travel up to 369 miles/590 kilometres on a single fuelling.

Photograph: Hyundai ix35 fuel cell.