The Hyundai Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV was first displayed in concept form earlier this year at the Geneva Auto Show and now the automaker has showcased a pre-production version of the SUV ahead of its debut in 2018.
The Hyundai Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered SUV is reported to have a range of up to 580 kilometers (360 miles). The hydrogen will be stored in separate equal sized tanks, while the powertrain consists of a 160 horsepower engine. Compared to the Tucson ix FCEV, launched in 2013, the new SUV will be nine-percent more efficient and 20 percent more powerful.
Unlike conventional electric cars which take a couple of hours to recharge, the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can be refueled in just a few minutes. However, there aren’t many hydrogen fueling stations available worldwide, which is why automakers and even governments are investing heavily in this technology. In this regard, South Korea is aiming to increase the number of fuel stations from 16 to 100 by 2020.
The new Hyundai Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV is also expected to feature a number of advanced driver assistance technologies the details of which will be revealed next year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.