Hyundai says that hydrogen growth is heavily dependant on infrastructure
Hyundai Europe president and chief operating officer -Allan Rushforth – has recently said that the popularization of hydrogen fuel cell cars is being held back due to the lack of refuelling infrastructure.
He made this statement relating to the fac that the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell – which he claims to be the only hydrogen fuel cell car currently available for comercial purchase in the world – is limited in its application due to the small number of refuelling points.
Continuing to say that Hyundai can only move as quickly as the market will allow it, on the basis that the infrastructure is available to refuel, and the infrastructure isn’t there yet, not by a long shot.
Talking about the differences between traditionally powered cars and hydrogen fuel cell cars, he said that the cars drive, refuel and ride like any other car. They have proper range and useability, and pointed to the Intrado concept SUV revealed at the 2014 Geneva motor show’s 600km range.
All the parts are in place for hydrogen fuel cell technology to take off, all except for refuelling stations.
Europe and the US are by far the two main centres of focus for Hyundai’s and other brands’ hydrogen offerings, including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Honda.
Mercedes-Benz built several prototype B-class F-Cell models and while they completed an around the world trip in those cars, there hasn’t been any more news relating to fuel cell development for production cars from their end.
Toyota on the other hand does plan its first hydrogen fuel cell car – which is expected to go on sale sometime in 2015 – with fellow Japanese brand Honda planning to laungh a new generation of hydrogen-powered EV in 2015/16. Honda used to be the frontrunner in fuel cell development with the FCX Clarity but it appears that Hyundai has taken that spot.
