Hyundai is currently working on a fuel cell version of its Tucson crossover, which will go on sale in the U.S. next year.
Hyundai is currently working on a fuel cell version of its Tucson crossover, which will go on sale in the U.S. next year. Hyundai plans to produce 1,000 hydrogen-powered Tucsons, which will go on sale worldwide by 2015.
Hyundai is placing more emphasis on fuel-cell powered vehicles, since it sees future limitations with battery powered EVs. “There is no problem with the technology — only with the cost and profitability,” Kwon Moon-sik, Hyundai Motor Group’s president of r&d stated about battery EVs. “We cannot make a profit with them.”
According to Kwon the lithium-ion batteries that power today’s electric cars are too expensive and there are few chances that the costs will drop. Hyundai joins a list of automakers that are going to release hydrogen-powered vehicles in the near future. GM and Honda recently joined forces to develop a fuel cell system and Toyota plans to release its own fuel cell electric vehicle in 2015.
The biggest problem that hydrogen vehicles face is the lack of infrastructure to refuel them. California hopes to open 68 new stations by 2015.
Source: Hyundai via Automotive News
