Hyundai ix35 FCEV Hits UK

Well, not for sale, not just yet. The ix35 is coming to the UK as part of its media tour. Hyundai wants to offer media and the public the chance to drive its ix35 Fuel Cell.

The Tour’s visit to Cardiff on Wednesday (3 October) proved highly popular, and even larger numbers of drivers, passengers and onlookers are expected in London on Friday 5 October (when media can drive the ix35 Fuel Cell) and Saturday 6 October when both media and public can drive. The ultimate aim of the road tour is to reach politicians, industry leaders, media and the public to help promote investment in hydrogen infrastructure across Europe.

Starting from next year, Hyundai will lease this car to fleet and private user in a trial period to see if it really works in the real world. The car should be alright, but it’s the infrastructure that might prevent the FCEV cars to go boom.

Hyundai press release:

Supported by a host of organisations and other car makers, the European HydrogenRoad Tour has visited several European cities, including Hamburg and Hannover in Germany, Bolzano in Italy, and Paris.  In addition to Cardiff and London, the Tour is visiting Bristol and Swindon, where hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is already in place. 

Hyundai’s updated ix35 Fuel Cell was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September and is the halo vehicle in Hyundai’s ‘Blue Drive’ sub-brand which comprises low-emissions versions of the company’s models.  Hyundai will produce 1,000 examples of the car, making it the first global car maker to begin commercial rollout of zero-emission vehicles, with delivery to public and private fleets taking place between 2013 and 2015.  Hyundai is committed to bringing the car to full production from 2015, with a goal of producing 10,000 units.   

Hyundai has been developing fuel cell vehicles since 1998 and the latest refinements give the ix35 Fuel Cell cars attending the Tour true real-world viability.  The ix35 Fuel Cell can reach 62 mph in 12.5 seconds, attain a top speed of 100 mph and travel up to 365 miles on a single tank of hydrogen.  The only tail-pipe emission from the car is water vapour.  Furthermore, externally and internally, the ix35 Fuel Cell is almost identical to its conventionally-powered sibling. 

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor UK commented, “Hyundai is committed to being the industry leader in eco-friendly mobility.  We have previously given ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles to the European Parliament to use for test-drives, and we have also taken part in numerous zero-emission events and tests across the continent, proving their practicality, safety and usability.  The European Hydrogen Road Tour now enables us to give the public a great opportunity to test these incredible cars, which we believe can help create a society with a sustainable energy supply and zero-emission mobility.”