The Nexo strengthens Hyundai’s long-time commitment to cleaner mobility. The company’s innovative FCEV emits only water vapour, the by-product the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen which generate electricity. The Nexo delivers a driving range of up to 666 km, according to WLTP, as well as a refilling time of less than five minutes. This ensures customers can benefit from one of the longest fuel cell-powered capacities, as well as maximum convenience while on longer journeys.
Before the Nexo, Hyundai had been investing in hydrogen fuel cell technology for more than two decades. The company’s fuel cell system leverages years of experience to bring FCEVs to the market. At the turn of the century, Hyundai introduced its first fuel cell electric vehicle, the SantaFe FCEV prototype. Hyundai was the first car manufacturer to commercialise hydrogen and mass produce an FCEV with the 2013 launch of the ix35 Fuel Cell, and five years later, the Nexo became the company’s second-generation FCEV.
To foster a better and cleaner future, Hyundai has committed itself to develop fuel cell technology further. The company supports establishing the supply chain to make a “hydrogen economy” a reality.
Just last year, Hyundai brought the Xcient Fuel Cell, the world’s first mass-produced, fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck, to the Swiss commercial market. As of July 2021, the Xcient Fuel Cell fleet consisted of almost 50 trucks, and the trucks currently in operation have already driven more than 1.5 million km cumulatively. The 2021 version features a 190-kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two 95 kW fuel cell stacks and a maximum driving range of around 400 km.
Recently, Hyundai handed over its Elec City Fuel Cell bus to two bus operators in Munich. Its 180-kW high-capacity hydrogen fuel cell system consists of two 90-kW hydrogen fuel cells and can deliver more than 500 km of driving range. The hydrogen-powered bus is now being tested in Europe.
Hyundai revealed its FCEV roadmap for the coming years at the Hydrogen Wave Forum, which followed the IAA Mobility 2021. The company is currently developing its third-generation fuel cell stack, which will replace the Nexo’s current stack. The company also revealed an innovative fuel cell ‘Full Flat System’ which has potential applications for PBVs, MPVs, buses, and trams. Hyundai expects to sell more than 110,000 passenger and commercial FCEVs globally every year by 2025.
