Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) at EcoVelocity

The UK debut of the Hyundai ix35 FCEV will take place at the EcoVelocity show in London next week.

To all intents and purposes the Hyundai ix35 FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) is just like any other ix35.

That means it’s a well designed, well-built and value for money softroader; a Tiguan and Kuga competitor from Korea making real inroads in to the traditional European and Japanese dominated sector. And deservedly so.

But what’s is different about the ix35 FCEV is that it’s powered by a hydrogen fuel cell; perhaps the only long-term solution to our energy problems. Well, short of cold fusion, anyway.

The ix35 FCEV is Hyundai’s third generation FCEV and is able to offer the same convenience as an ICE ix35; refuelling is as simple and the range and practicality are very similar.

The latest ix35 FCEV can operate at temperatures down to -25 degrees C, has a range of 360 miles and can get to 62mph in 12.8 seconds. And the only emissions are water vapour, which is very good indeed. CO2 matters not a jot, but no NOx and no particulates makes hydrogen a winner (we’ll gloss over the problems of acquiring the hydrogen).

Hyundai’s UK MD, Tony Whitehorn, said:

We are extremely excited to be showcasing the ix35 FCEV in the UK for the first time at EcoVelocity. Hyundai is a world leader in the development of hydrogen-powered technology and is constantly researching and developing modes of transportation that use alternative fuels at the Eco-technology research institute in Mabuk, Korea.

The ultimate goal would be to see zero-emission vehicles on UK roads within the next few years; however, the market and local infrastructure will be the real determinant of this. In the interim, Hyundai is working hard to make internal combustion engines as efficient as possible.

And if more car makers would only stop wasting money on dead-end battery technology, and spent the money saved on progressing something with a real future, we’d be able to end our dependence on oil so much the quicker.

Some hopes.