Paris-based electric taxi start-up STEP (Societe du Taxi Electrique Parisien) has received five Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles to use in their hydrogen-powered electric taxi fleet.
The fleet is actually called ‘Hype’, which of course stands for Hydrogen Powered Electricity, and will be operating in the Greater Paris area.
The plan is for Hype to grow to having several hundred vehicles within the next five years as the refueling infrastructure will continue to be gradually installed next year.
“With this pioneering project, Hyundai Motor and STEP are bringing new sustainable mobility to the streets of Paris. The ix35 Fuel Cell taxis will provide not only a clean solution for the city, but also a practical, comfortable and reliable choice for drivers and passengers”, said Thomas A. Schmid of Hyundai Motor Europe.
If you’re wondering how this fleet compares to other, more conventional taxi fleets, consider the fact that the ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles will save around 70 tonnes of CO2 per year in exhaust emissions compared to diesel-powered taxis that can only manage 135g/km when averaging 100,000 kilometers (62,137 miles) per year.
Hyundai will also introduce and certify a specialized fuel cell dealership, so that the growing hydrogen-powered fleet can be properly serviced.
Right now, the number of ix35 Fuel Cell cars on European roads has numbers more than 250 units, and by the end of this year the hydrogen-powered Korean SUV will be available for sale or lease in 13 European countries.
PHOTO GALLERY
