Away from the ‘spin’ of corporate PR, most automotive engineers tell you hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are the solution for true zero emissions motoring. Korean giant Hyundai caught everyone off-guard at the Paris Motor Show media preview by announcing it will be the first manufacturer to offer full private sale of such a vehicle – the ix35 Fuel Cell.
The first of 10,000 planned ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles will roll from Hyundai’s Ulsan (Korea) production line this year and Hyundai has already signed leasing contracts with cities in Denmak and Sweden who will be the first to take delivery.
Hyundai has claimed proprietary technology for much of the ix35 Fuel Cell which contains a fuel cell stack which converts hydrogen into the electricity which is used to provide propulsion. The only by-product of this process is water which trickles from the exhaust pipe.
The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell covers zero to 100km/h in 12.5 seconds and has a top speed of 160km/h. Range between re-fuelling is 588kms and – here’s the clincher over battery electric cars – re-fuelling takes the same time as a vehicle with a petrol/diesel internal combustion engine.
Of course this is all a ‘start-ip’ technology at the moment so costs are artificially high. Even so, if you coast your Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell, completely empty to a re-fuelling station, the cost to fill-up is about $70.
With more hydrogen re-fuelling stations now under construction, Hyundai will soon be commencing private sale/leasing of the ix35 Fuel Cell in Korea and in the North American state of California.
