14 DAY TRIAL // Aiming to promote the hydrogen fuel cell technology, the European Commission-backed Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) has chosen the Hyundai ix35 fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) as a demo vehicle.
The vehicles will be made available for Members of European Parliament, Commissioners, EU officials and other policymakers to test drive until March 2012.
First introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010, the ix35 features important innovations over previous-generation Hyundai FCEVs, including a 55 percent improvement in driving range and an 80 percent reduction in manufacturing costs.
“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,” said Maria da Graça Carvalho MEP, Member of the Industry Committee and host of the exhibition Joint Technology Initiatives.
“I am sure my fellow members of the European Parliament will embrace the opportunity to test the viability of hydrogen technology,” she added.
The inclusion of the ix35 FCEV in the EU fleet brings Hyundai a step closer to the company’s goal of mass producing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles by 2015.
“The announcement today complements the work we have already undertaken with other government bodies around Europe, and by 2012 we hope to operate more than 30 Hyundai ix35 FCEVs across the continent,” said Chang Kyun Han, President of Hyundai Motor Europe.
As a fresh reminder, we’ll tell you that the FCEV uses hydrogen as fuel and generates its own electricity, which is used to power the car. The only emission of this process is water.
The ix35 FCEV has a driving range of 360 miles (580 km), a maximum speed of 100 mph (62 km/h) and 0-to-62mph time of 12.8 seconds. The fuel cell stack can operate at sub-zero temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius.