The ix35 Fuel Cell car, based on the ix35 C-segment SUV, rolled off the assembly line at the carmaker's Ulsan manufacturing facility in Korea last week. This first car will be one of 17 destined for fleet customers in Denmark and Sweden.
Hyundai say this hydrogen-powered car is the most eco-friendly vehicle in the auto industry and proves that hydrogen fuel cell technology in daily driving is no longer a dream.
A fuel cell stack converts the hydrogen into electricity, which turns the vehicle's motor. The only emission generated is water.
The ix35 Fuel Cell has the same drivability and performance similar to that of the petrol ix35.
Hyundai plans to build 1,000 more of these ix35 Fuel Cell cars by 2015 for lease to public and private fleets, primarily in Europe where the EU has established a hydrogen road map and initiated construction of hydrogen fuelling stations. It takes just a few minutes to refuel with hydrogen, can go from 0-100kms in 12.5 seconds, has a top speed of 160km/h and can travel 594 kms with a single charge.
After 2015, when production costs are lowered, Hyundai will start manufacturing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for consumer retail sales.
