The NEXO and Mirai aren’t available for sale in much of the United States. However, their automakers, Hyundai and Toyota respectively, see the vehicles as the future of transportaiton.
The a world of hydrogen-powered cars, trucks, and SUVs isn’t as crazy as it seems. There is plenty of naturally occurring hydrogen in the world and the technology is already figured out, for the most part. The central issues revolve around delivery to vehicles (pumping stations), moving supply around the world (pipelines), and local legislation (outdated laws concerning transporting hydrogen across bridges and in tunnels).
There’s also a large education gap between engineers and consumers. While messaging concerning only water vapor coming out the tailpipe has been around for a while, the average shopper doesn’t understand how a hydrogen-powered vehicle uses the fuel, and why it’s safe.
A new video from Hyundai in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day earlier this week shows how the Nexo fuel cell stack creates propulsion energy on demand. This is in contrast to battery-electric vehicles, and more in line with the style of workings of a traditional hybrid car.
“We’re very proud of Hyundai’s fuel cell SUVs accumulating well over ten million miles in time for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, 2020,” said Brian Smith, chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor America. “Our newest NEXO fuel cell SUV truly sets the standard for zero-emissions travel in California, and it does so in the flexible SUV body configuration that many families desire to meet their active lifestyle needs. With up to 380 miles of range and a refueling speed of only five minutes, our newest NEXO is truly a vision for a zero-emissions future, available from Hyundai today.”
How Fuel Cell Vehicles Work | Nexo | Hyundai
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Hyundai and Toyota continue to invest in hydrogen study and production. Toyota’s U.S. operation is working with legislators to change laws and develop plans for more hydrogen stations while their team in Japan is planning to build an entire hydrogen-fueled town at the base of Mt. Fuji.
Hyundai is developing more hydrogen-powered vehicles and seeking to influence adoption practices worldwide. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman and Hydrogen Council Co-chair Euisun Chung recently outlined the path forward in a speech at the third meeting of the Hydrogen Council earlier this year.
