Have you ever seen a fuel cell vehicle on the road or even heard of one — more commonly referred to as a hydrogen vehicle? First of all, know that they do exist, and according to some experts, they represent the technology of the future.
Hyundai is one of the few automakers that have decided to invest in the development of fuel cell technology — and that’s where the NEXO comes in. The model has been around for many years already. Despite its very limited production, the popularity of the small Korean SUV keeps growing year after year, and that trend is likely to continue now that Hyundai has introduced the second generation of the model.
700 Kilometers
The unfortunate reality of electric vehicles is that their range is generally far below that of gasoline-powered vehicles, and charging times remain a challenge. Not to mention that range drops significantly when temperatures fall below freezing.
That’s where hydrogen vehicles like the Hyundai NEXO become particularly appealing. These vehicles are equipped with a hydrogen tank that is converted into electricity on demand through a chemical process. Just like with a gasoline vehicle, refueling a fuel cell vehicle only takes a few minutes.
If the first-generation Hyundai NEXO was already impressive, the second generation takes things even further. The Korean automaker claims a range of 700 kilometers on a single tank.
In addition to offering improved range over the previous version, the new NEXO is equipped with a 204-horsepower electric motor.
A More Modern Look
It’s fair to say that Hyundai has been bold yet somewhat conservative in designing the second-generation NEXO. The small SUV sports a successful retro-modern aesthetic with unique visual elements. Its interior is in line with what we see in most new Hyundai models — elegant and modern. A fully digital instrument cluster spans more than half the dashboard and integrates two 12.3-inch screens for the infotainment system and digital display. The cabin also offers increased interior volume, with cargo space that can extend up to 1,000 liters.
Fuel cell vehicles may not yet be as popular as conventional electric vehicles, but I believe it’s only a matter of time before more automakers jump into mass production of hydrogen-powered cars.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
