Hydrogen-powered Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell lands in Australia

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As part of a plan to operate a test fleet of fuel cell vehicles in Australia, Hyundai has brought in the first permanently imported hydrogen-powered car into the country.

The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell is a hydrogen-powered, zero-emissions Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) built in Ulsan, South Korea. The company hopes its new emission free ix35 will be a pioneering step toward the commercial availability of emissions-free hydrogen powered vehicles in Australia.

“In February 2013, Hyundai Motor Company became the first automobile manufacturer in the world to begin mass-production of a hydrogen-powered vehicle – the ix35 Fuel Cell,” said Mr Charlie Kim, Chief Executive Officer, Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA).

“This gave HMCA the ability to order a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle in the same way as we order any other new Hyundai car. Now we have one, and we believe this fantastic car will help demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as a green transport solution for Australia.”

Hyundai  ix35 Hygrogen Cell Car

Hyundai has now begun the installation of Australia’s only Hydrogen Refuelling Station (HRS) at its headquarters in Macquarie Park, Sydney, using hydrogen provided by gas partner Coregas Australia. The HRS, supplied by American company Air Products, has passed all planning permissions from Ryde Council and is expected to be fully operational early in 2015 after testing is completed during December.

“Ultimately, we see no reason why Australians should not enjoy the same environmental solutions as consumers in other markets,” continued Mr Kim. “Hyundai strongly supports the idea of a ‘Hydrogen Highway’ in Australia like those already in operation overseas, and we are committed to working with local partners to try to facilitate this.”

Hyundai has already laid out plans to build an electrolyser in partnership with Australian company Sefca at its headquarters in Macquarie Park in 2015, and install a solar array to power both it and the refueller – this will make its HRS fully self-sustainable, with hydrogen made on-site.

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The company has been in talks with the Federal Government about a proposal to hydrogenised the Hume Freeway, the nation’s busiest freeway linking Melbourne and Sydney. The proposal calls for refuelling stations in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and in between, which could see hydrogen vehicles, including buses, running on the Hydrogen Highway emitting nothing but water vapour.

“A project like ‘Hume by Hydrogen’ would surely demonstrate the benefits of hydrogen transport very effectively – we want our ix35 Fuel Cell to start a meaningful conversation about a hydrogen infrastructure in Australia for the benefit of future generations.”

Hyundai has begun discussions with a number of interested local partners to advance its thinking and seek support for its proposals. Further announcements will be made at the ix35 Fuel Cell’s official launch early in the New Year.

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The ix35 Fuel Cell is runs purely on hydrogen and emitting nothing but water vapour from its exhaust pipe. Hydrogen from the SUV’s fuel tank is mixed with air and converted to electricity by a fuel cell stack – the electricity then powers the car’s electric motor.

Near-silent and emissions-free, the ix35 Fuel Cell develops 100kW of power and 300Nm of torque and has an official maximum range of 594km. A Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell set a record in early July for the longest journey completed by a vehicle on a single tank of hydrogen, driving 700km through Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Private customers are leasing ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles in Los Angeles as part of an advanced hydrogen scheme, and many more ix35 Fuel Cells are operational throughout Europe. The delivery of Australia’s first FCEV marks a significant step in developing a hydrogen fuel infrastructure in this country.

 

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