At the Paris Auto Show, Hyundai announced that it will begin production of the ix35 Fuel Cell crossover (also know as the Tucson) at its Ulsan plant in South Korea. The initial projection is 1,000 units by 2015 and a limited mass production of 10,000 units after that.
The ix35 Fuel Cell features a fuel cell stack that converts hydrogen into electricity, which charges the lithium polymer battery that powers the electric motor. It is a zero-emissions vehicle since the only thing that it emits is water vapor.
“The ix35 Fuel Cell is the pinnacle of Hyundai’s advanced engineering and our most powerful commitment to be the industry leader in eco-friendly mobility”, said Hyundai vice chairman and head of R&D Woong Chul Yang. “Zero-emissions cars are no longer a dream. Our ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle is here today, and ready for commercial use.”
Unlike other zero-emissions vehicles, like EVs that require a long period of charging and have a limited range, topping up the ix35’s hydrogen tank can be achieved in a few minutes and its maximum range is 588 km (365 miles).
The compact crossover was chosen because it is the second best-selling Hyundai model in Europe behind the i30. Its performance figures are similar to petrol-engined versions: it accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 12.5 seconds and tops out at 160 km/h (100 mph).
Hyundai said that it targets both public and private fleets and announced that it has already signed contracts with cities in Sweden and Denmark to lease the ix35 Fuel Cell in their municipal fleets.
By Andrew Tsaousis
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