Hyundai moving to commercialize fuel cell EVs

Hyundai Motor president Chung Jin-haeng, third from left in front row, poses with Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyung-hwan, center in front row, and other participants after signing business agreements at the Sejong Convention Center, Sejong City, Monday. Under the deals, the automaker will run 10 Tucson ix fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) as taxis in Ulsan in December, as well as providing 30 vehicles for a pilot car sharing program in Gwangju. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Automaker plans to sell vehicles as taxis, begin car sharing program

By Lee Hyo-sik

Hyundai Motor is stepping up its efforts to commercialize its hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), the first of its kind in the world, to become a top manufacturer of environmentally-friendly cars.

Korea’s largest automaker said Monday that it will sell FCEVs as taxis and begin a car sharing program later this year to promote the use of the emission-free vehicles among businesses and individuals.

Hyundai began mass-producing the Tucson ix FCEV in 2013, but has sold just 78 vehicles only to government agencies and public enterprises, mostly for various trial projects, because of the high prices and a lack of fuel stations. But now the company wants to expand the customer base for the Tucson ix FCEV.

First, the carmaker plans to operate 10 Tucson ix FCEVs as taxis for a trial run in Ulsan in December, while providing 15 vehicles for a pilot car sharing program in Gwangju.

An FCEV is a hybrid car that uses a fuel cell and a battery to power an electric motor, instead of a combustion engine. It generally uses oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen, emitting only water and heat. The Tucson ix FCEV can travel a maximum of 400 kilometers per charge and has a more stable storage tank, according to the company.

On Monday, Hyundai Motor held a ceremony in Sejong City, signing business agreements with municipal administrations and partner firms.

The automaker signed a deal with Ulsan Metropolitan Government and a taxi association in the city to offer 10 Tucson ix FCEVs as taxis. It plans to add five more vehicles in Ulsan in 2017, and begin running another 5 as taxis in Gwangju.

In 2018, a total of 100 FCEVs will run as taxis across five municipalities, Hyundai said.

In addition, the carmaker signed agreements with Gwangju Metropolitan Government and rental car firm J-Car to use 15 Tucson ix FCEVs for a car sharing program. The firm plans to increase the number to 150 by 2020 and expand the program to other regions.

“Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have been touted as one of the two futuristic vehicles, along with electric vehicles,” a Hyundai Motor official said. “The two projects will enable more people to experience what the vehicles are like and publicize the safety and excellence of the environmentally-friendly, zero-emission cars. We will continue to enhance our global leadership in FCEVs and nurture them as our new export item.”

Earlier, the government started a consultative body of representatives from the public and private sectors to foster the hydrogen car industry as one of Korea’s new growth engines.