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  • Fuel Cell Vehicles

Technology

Fuel Cell Vehicles

Dreaming of a Cleaner World

Our earth-friendly technology is bringing our dreams of zero-emission vehicles to reality. With a goal of commercializing fuel cell electric vehicles by 2012, Hyundai·Kia Motors is opening the possibility to a new future by solving problems of energy depletion and environmental damage.

- Fuel Cell Electronic Vehicles

Fuel cell electric vehicles are powered by the electricity created when hydrogen comes into direct contact with oxygen in the atmosphere and forms a chemical reaction. Aside from water, the vehicles produce no emissions and therefore are an answer to protecting the environment from various harmful byproducts and greenhouse gases, in addition to preventing depletion of energy sources.
After developing Koreas first fuel cell Sportage in 2000, we introduced the countrys first 80kW fuel cell powered Tucson in 2004, and independently developed a second generation fuel cell Sportage. Hyundai·Kia has been selected as a participant in the US FCEV fleet operation project (2004~2009) and currently oversees pilot operations of 66 proprietary Fuel cell electric vehicles in Korea and abroad.

  

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We plan to include mid to large-sized SUVs while expanding the fleet of pilot vehicles to several hundred units. Afterwards, we will build a small-scale production system to begin manufacturing from 2012.

- Operating principle of fuel cell electronic vehicles

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Future platform of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles

  • 100kW level fuel cell stack with metal bipolar plate
  • 60% fuel cell system efficiency
  • lgnition possible in subzero temperatures of -30 degress Celsius
    (-22 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Secure dynamic driving and steering stability via balanced vehicle load distribution
  • Max. distance : 600km
  • Max. speed : 170kph

- Operating principle of fuel cell electric vehicles

When hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell batteries, hydrogen molecules (H2) are converted into hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons. The electrons move into an external circuit, where they create the energy needed to drive the motor. The ions pass through a proton exchange membrane and meet up with oxygen atoms and electrons from the external circuit to form water molecules.
Water is then the only emission from fuel cell electric vehicles and is expelled into the atmosphere with the remaining air.

- Hyundai·Kia fuel cell electronic vehicle development timeline

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