Setting the pace in hydrogen

While battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) have taken an early lead in the global race to produce cleaner car engines, many of the world’s largest car manufacturers are also investing significantly in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology.

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The Hyundai Nexo

Hydrogen cars have some compelling technical, operational and environmental advantages when compared with more conventional EVs. They produce zero exhaust emissions, emitting only water at the tailpipe.

Thomas A. Schmid, Senior VP and COO, Hyudai Motor Europe

“Hydrogen actually filters the air, so the air that comes out of a car is much cleaner than the air that is sucked in,” says Thomas A. Schmid, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor Europe, the world’s leading manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

“We believe in the technology not only for cars but also for trucks.”

Demand for hydrogen vehicles is rising steadily, especially for trucks, which can shift much larger loads than vehicles which rely on massive electric batteries. In 2018, Hyundai signed a landmark contract to provide 1,000 hydrogen trucks in Switzerland.

When it comes to passenger cars, Hyundai is also rolling out a series of attractive leading models, including most recently the Nexo, which can drive 378 miles on a full tank.

“The Nexo is the best car on the market with this technology,” Schmid says. “When the infrastructure improves, we expect high levels of demand for hydrogen cars”full_stop

As published in TIME magazine