Hyundai has created a fuel-cell powered electric vehicle based on the ix35 SUV. It's been designed and engineered with European motorist, but to check if it's any good, a substantial test fleet has been put together and will be given to Members of European Parliament, Commissioners, EU officials and other policymakers to test drive until March 2012.
This is the second major fuel-cell SUV Hyundai puts together, and is a major commitment from the automaker, who wants to adopt hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles by 2015. Compared to the Santa Fe FCEV that debuted in 2000, the ix35 has 55 percent more range and is 80 percent cheaper to manufacture.
"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," said Maria da Graca Carvalho MEP, Member of the Industry Committee and host of the exhibition Joint Technology Initiatives.
"We are delighted that the Hyundai ix35 FCEV has been chosen by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking as its European demonstration vehicle. We fully support efforts by the FCH JU to promote the benefits of hydrogen and fuel cell technology to leading policymakers and opinion-formers. 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," added Chang Kyun Han, President of Hyundai Motor Europe.
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