EU officials testing fuel-cell Hyundai

The Hyundai ix35 fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) has been selected by the European Commission-backed Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) to be used as a demonstration vehicle to test and promote hydrogen fuel cell technology in a real-world environment.As part of the announcement made yesterday at the FCH JU-organised "Joint Technology Initiatives:
May 4, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

The 236 Hyundai ix35 fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) has been selected by the 2465 European Commission-backed Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) to be used as a demonstration vehicle to test and promote hydrogen fuel cell technology in a real-world environment.

As part of the announcement made yesterday at the FCH JU-organised “Joint Technology Initiatives: Innovation in Action” exhibition in Brussels, the ix35 FCEV will be made available for Members of European Parliament, Commissioners, EU officials and other policymakers to test drive until March 2012.

The decision moves Hyundai a step closer to the commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles by 2015.  Debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010, the ix35 features important innovations over previous-generation Hyundai FCEVs, including a 55 per cent improvement in driving range and an 80 per cent reduction in manufacturing costs.

Earlier this year, Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding with the municipality of Copenhagen to establish the necessary infrastructure for the supply and use of FCEVs in Denmark.

Maria da Graça Carvalho MEP, Member of the Industry Committee and host of the exhibition Joint Technology Initiatives, said: “Fuel cell vehicles, such as the ix35 FCEV, have great potential to help fight carbon dioxide emissions, reduce our dependence on hydrocarbons and contribute to economic growth.  I am sure my fellow members of the European Parliament will embrace the opportunity to test the viability of hydrogen technology.”

The ix35 FCEV is based on the award-winning compact SUV, ix35 which was designed and engineered in Europe for European motorists.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • EU transport committee sets targets to 2020
    May 15, 2012
    A resolution drafted by Mathieu Grosch and adopted yesterday by the EU transport committee calls for the abolition of all remaining barriers and borders in order to complete the creation of a single transport area for goods and passengers which is competitive, co-modal and resource efficient. The vote reflects a broad political consensus on the main safety and environmental targets to be reached by 2020.
    Read More
  • Boosting the transition to a greener economy for the future
    December 8, 2020
    IRF director general, Susanna Zammataro spoke with Florent Menegaux, CEO of Michelin at the first IRF Executives Talks
    Read More
  • New CECE president takes over
    January 10, 2020
    Niklas Nillroth has taken over as president of European construction equipment association CECE, starting from January 1 this year.
    Read More
  • Brexit: CEA says UK government must boost business confidence now
    October 28, 2016
    The UK government must understand that pulling out of the European Union will have consequences for the manufacturing sector and should be ready to help. “A lot of EU regulation has been tough but at least we know what is,” said Rob Oliver, chief executive of the UK’s Construction Equipment Association. Oliver, speaking at last week’s one-day conference in London, warned the government against introducing tougher regulations than the EU has done.
    Read More

Highlighted Content