Get Guardian on Google
Hyundai plans to launch a new fuel cell hydrogen Sport-Utility Vehicle (SUV) next year, and it seems set to get a driving range well ahead of its rivals from Toyota and Honda.
Regardless, this concept car which made its global debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show is proof that Hyundai and sister brand Kia remain serious about developing production-ready fuel-cell vehicles.
The South Korean carmaker may unveil the model as part of the Winter Olympic Games, being held in Pyeongchang, and Bloomberg says the vehicle could get a range of up to 500 miles (around 800 km).
[ad]
The company had announced that it would reclaim its early leadership in hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles by releasing a new fuel-cell SUV next year with an industry-best range of 500 miles.
Its sister company, Kia said it would also produce its own fuel-cell vehicle by 2020.
The new hydrogen car is part of Hyundai’s plans to put 14 more eco-friendly vehicles on the road by 2020.
Hyundai’s Head of Technology, Kim Sae-hoon, speaking about the car, confirmed that Hyundai has fallen behind in the race to develop mainstream fuel-cell vehicles but that he wants that to change.
“We want to lead the changes in terms of technology. When there is industrial restructuring and emergence of new technologies, it gives a new opportunity to us,” he said.
Hyundai has confirmed that it is developing fuel-cell powertrains that are comparable in size to an internal combustion engine to allow hydrogen systems to be used throughout a host of models.
