14 DAY TRIAL // The Hyundai Motor Company has recently announced plans to deliver as many as 75 hydrogen cars to the HyFive scheme. Information shared with the public by the multinational automotive manufacturer says that these four-wheelers are to be ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles.
These cars pack a 100 kW electric motor and can reach a speed of up to 99 miles per hour (159 kilometers per hour). The hydrogen tanks that they carry between their rear wheels allow them to cover up to 369 miles (594 kilometers) on a single fueling.
As reported just yesterday, the HyFive scheme, otherwise known as the Hydrogen for Innovative Vehicles project, aims to boost the popularity of hydrogen fuel cell cars in Europe.
The scheme is the result of a collaboration between 15 different partners, including automakers Daimler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota. The project, whose value is said to be one of £31 million (€37.39 million / $51.56), is financed by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
As part of this green-oriented project, 110 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are to be set loose on roads in Europe. Of these 110 cars, 75 will be Hyndai's ix35 fuel cell vehicles, Green Car Congress informs.
In a recent interview with the press, Byung Kwon Rhim, the current president of Hyundai Motor Europe, made a case of how, given its expertise in the field of hydrogen cars, it was only natural that the multinational automotive company would get behind this project.
“Hyundai Motor has been a world leader in the development of hydrogen fuel-cell technology since 1998, and this latest partnership will help to further raise awareness of hydrogen power as a long-term transport solution,” Byung Kwon Rhim said.
“By delivering more vehicles for use on Europe’s roads, we will work with the other project partners to advance the awareness, understanding, viability and uptake of vehicles such as ix35 Fuel Cell,” the President of Hyundai Motor Europe added.
Apart from deploying 110 fuel cell cars in several locations across Europe, i.e. Bolzano, Copenhagen, Innsbruck, London, Munich, Stuttgart, the HyFive scheme will focus on the development of several hydrogen refueling stations.
Information shared with the public says that, of these refueling stations, three are to be built in London, UK, one in Aarhus and in Odense, Denmark, and one in Innsbruck, Austria. Should things go according to plan, this stations will be up and running by 2015 at the latest.
“With a total of 110 FCEVs and 6 new refueling stations, HyFive will represent the largest single project of its kind financed by the FCH JU. The high level of technology readiness of this zero emission transport technology will be showcased in 5 European Member States, thus ensuring a broad geographical outreach,” Bert De Colvenaer with the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking said in a statement, as cited by Green Car Congress.