Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell – 50 new cars on European roads in October

The Hyundai ix35 Hydrogen Fuel Cell car continues its roll out in the UK and Europe, with 50 new cars delivered in October, and 250 in total now on Europe’s roads.

The hydrogen fuel cell car news of late has been mainly about the Toyota Mirai (with, more recently, the Honda Clarity FCV popping up too), but we need to remember that it was Hyundai that hit the ground running first with a production version of a hydrogen fuel cell car – the Hyundai IX35 FCEV.

That early start means Hyundai is well ahead of the pack, and managed to deliver 50 new ix35s powered by hydrogen in Europe in October, taking the total delivered so far to over 250 – more than the total of hydrogen fuel cell cars from all other car makers combined.

So far, Hyundai’s FCEVs have covered 750,000 miles on UK and European roads, and by the end of 2015 they will be quietly running round 13 countries in Europe, with Spain and Switzerland added to the current tally of 11 countries (including the UK) where the ix35 FCEV is already available.

Thomas A. Schmid, Hyundai Europe’s COO, said:

This latest landmark delivery enhances our leading position in the roll-out of fuel cell vehicles in Europe. With our fuel cell distribution network growing to 13 European countries, we are enhancing our sales and customer service capabilities, making fuel cell electric vehicles more accessible for customers throughout Europe

The success is despite the not inconsiderable price of the ix35 FCEV (it costs £67,965, but subsidies bring it in at £53,105), but as numbers grow prices will drop, and numbers will grow as a refuelling infrastructure develops.