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Hyundai Australia confirms 2018 on-sale date for hydrogen fuel cell cars

Hyundai has imported a single left-hand drive ix35 fuel cell vehicle to preview its next-generation right hand drive hydrogen SU

Australia's first commercially available hydrogen-powered cars will be on the road by 2018, with the ACT Government today lodging the first-ever order for 20 Hyundai Fuel Cell Electric vehicles.

Not just the biggest order of its kind, it’s the first and only order for fuel cell vehicles in Australia. The deal will see Hyundai deliver 20 of its next-generation fuel cell vehicles in 2018 as part of a broader study into the technology.

The $23m Renewable Transport Fuels Test Berth will use electricity generated from the Hornsdale Windfarm in South Australia fed into a new Siemens Sylizer System hydrogen refueler to power the vehicles. 

Hyundai Australia today confirmed its yet-to-be-revealed next-gen fuel cell vehicles would be built in both left- and right-hand-drive configurations, and would be available to order when released in 2018.

The ACT Government order secures Australia’s first-ever hydrogen fuel cell sales for Hyundai.

The study is seen by Hyundai as an opportunity to test the technology’s real-world applications, with the Sylizer System capable of generating enough hydrogen gas to power 1,000 fuel cell vehicles for up to 14,000km of travel per year. Refueling each vehicle takes just three minutes.

“We’ll bring the car in from 2018, whether that is fleet, government or private customers. Obviously it will be in limited numbers, as the infrastructure to refuel cars is yet to be built,” said Hyundai Australia PR boss, Bill Thomas. “It’s one of those chicken-and-egg situations where you need the refueling stations before you need the cars.  In this case, there’s this terrific Siemens refueler that can refuel up to 1,000 cars every year. So that’s an amazing solution for the people of Canberra.

“A project like this forms a terrific stepping stone to seeing this kind of technology rolled out on a broader scale.”

While details surrounding Hyundai’s next-generation fuel cell vehicles are scarce, the fleet will be an all-new, purpose built SUV, as opposed to the current fuel call cars, which are modified versions of the ix35.

International reports suggest work on the new model is nearing completion, with the vehicle’s range expected to increase to 600km. A local pricing clue arrives in the shape of Toyota’s Mirai fuel cell vehicle, which is offered in the USA from US$57,000. Hyundai’s pricing is expected to land in a similar bracket, with a straight currency conversion putting the new Hyundai fuel cell vehicle in Australia wearing a sticker price of between $75,000 and $85,000.

Toyota imported three examples of its fuel-cell-powered Mirai into Australia in July as part of a three-year feasibility study. But the ACT Government order secures Australia’s first-ever hydrogen fuel cell sales for Hyundai.

“Hyundai’s leadership in hydrogen has been rewarded with a contract to supply 20 of our next-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to the ACT Government,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia CEO, Mr Charlie Kim.

“We commend the vision and ambition of everyone responsible for the Renewable Transport Fuels Test Birth and Hornsdale Wind Farm Stage 3. We hope this brilliant project inspires others to see the potential of hydrogen as a future fuel for our cars. This first small step toward a zero-emissions transport solution for Australia is very significant and we are proud to be involved.”

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