Hyundai plans to sell a fuel cell version of its ix35 crossover in Europe in 2015, after a pilot lease programme which begins next year, writes Brian Byrne.
The Europe deployment will include Ireland, according to Hyundai Ireland's Stephen Gleeson, and the target pricing will include a premium similar to that currently relating to electric passenger cars. In European market terms this would pitch the vehicle at approximately €55,000.
"But while the FCEV ix35 would be an electric vehicle in terms of its powertrain, it will offer a range of around 680kms, which makes it a much more practical proposition over the standard electric car," says Stephen Gleeson.
FCEVs are truly zero emissions vehicles, fuelled by hydrogen and the only byproduct being water vapour. Electricity is generated by passing hydrogen from an onboard tank through the fuel cell system.
Hyundai seems to have cracked the two main issues with fuel cells for automotive use, the design of suitable high pressure tanks and low temperatures operation.
The system has long been the 'holy grail' of carmakers, to produce cars that no longer depend on fossil fuels. Several of the big players have advanced prototypes in testing.
