Hyundai Motor Company has developed its new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle -- the Tucson ix Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) and plans to begin testing the vehicle next year with an intention for 2015 mass production.
The Tucson ix FCEV, which is equipped with a 100kW fuel cell system and two hydrogen storage tanks (700bar), can travel 650km on a single charge as compared to the second-generation Tucson FCEV, which could travel 370km on one charge.
The new model can start in temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius and gets gasoline equivalent fuel efficiency of 31km per liter, a 15% improvement over the previous version.
Overall volume of the fuel cell system was downsized by 20% compared to the previous system via modularization of bulky parts in the fuel cell system including fuel cell stack, balance of plant, inverter and high voltage junction box.
The company has manufactured more than 95% of the Tucson ix FCEV’s major components with Korean technology through close collaboration with about 120 domestic auto parts manufacturers.
Hyundai, which plans to make a limited supply of the Tucson ix FCEV in 2012 and begin mass production in 2015, will provide 48 Tucson ix FCEVs to take part in a `Domestic Fleet Program’ supported by the Korean government.