Hyundai Hydrogen Wave strategy to yield two new hydrogen fuel cell powertrains in 2023

Hyundai’s Hydrogen wave plans underpin next-generation hydrogen-powered vehicles from the brand; Vision FK hydrogen sports car concept shows the hydrogen future.

Hyundai has announced it will launch two new hydrogen fuel cell powertrains in 2023, as part of its mission to popularize the technology by 2040. The announcement was made at Hyundai’s Hydrogen Wave conference, which showcases the firm’s plans to make the tech “readily used for everyone, everything and everywhere”.

The company will offer two versions of its third-generation hydrogen fuel cell stack producing an output of 100kW and 200kW respectively. The former is designed for use in passenger cars (like the current NEXO SUV), while the latter is specifically designed for use in commercial vehicles.

Since the NEXO was launched back in 2018, Hyundai has reduced the size of its 100kW hydrogen fuel cell stack by 30 per cent, which it says makes it easier to apply to a range of different vehicle types. The 200kW unit is also a similar size to the NEXO’s, but offers double the power output.

By 2030, Hyundai aims to produce a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with a similar price point to a battery electric vehicle, thanks to the improved production efficiencies of its next-generation powertrains. The firm is keen to point out that it has already reduced the cost of the technology over the previous 20 years - by a staggering 98 per cent compared with its prototype fuel cells in 2003.

Hyundai also says it plans to become a leading light in hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, such as busses and heavy-duty trucks. By 2028, the company hopes to become the first manufacturer to apply the technology to every commercial vehicle sector.

These traditional heavy commercial vehicles will be joined by a new purpose-built vehicle, too, called the Fuel Cell e-Bogie. Essentially, it’s a four-wheeled autonomous subframe, complete with its own hydrogen storage system, which can be hitched to a variety of attachments to perform a range of specialized tasks.

At one extreme, there’s Hyundai’s Trailer Drone which uses two e-Bogies to transport shipping containers around docks. It’ll have a maximum range of 1,000km (around 620 miles) before needing to be refueled.

There are also plans for a hydrogen-powered rescue drone, which uses one e-Bogie fitted with attachments including a fire hose, strobe lights and microcopter. Hyundai says the drone will have a range of up to 500km (310 miles) depending on the terrain and will find particular use in fire-fighting and life-saving missions.

Hydrogen fuel cells also require significant cooling, and according to Hyundai Motor Group’s executive vice president and head of fuel cell centre, Saehoon Kim, this makes them applicable for use in cargo ships, where sea or river water can be used to cool the tech; shipping is a major contributor to global CO2 emissions, so fuel cell-powered craft could bring big environmental benefits.

Euisun Chung, Chairman of the Hyundai Motor Group, said: “Hyundai Motor Group’s vision is to apply hydrogen energy in all areas of life and industry such as our homes, work-places and factories. The goal is to make hydrogen readily used for everyone, everything, and everywhere.