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Hyundai develops better fuel-cell SUV

SEOUL - The Hyundai Motor Co, South Korea's largest auto maker, on Thursday said it had succeeded in developing a fuel-cell electric version of its popular Tucson compact sports utility vehicle. The company said the vehicle is a major improvement over its predecessor and will be road-tested in the US for five years.

Hyundai Motor has been developing the new fuel-cell model since last May in cooperation with United States-based UTC Fuel Cells. Fuel-cell vehicles, which run on hydrogen rather than gasoline, produce no emissions and are more fuel-efficient than hybrid vehicles.

"With the development of the Tucson fuel-cell electric model, we have secured world-class technology for development of fuel-cell vehicles," Kim Sang-kwon, president of research and development for Hyundai, said.

"It looks like we have taken a major step forward toward commercializing fuel-cell electric vehicles," Kim said. Hyundai Motor plans to introduce fully working fuel-cell vehicles by 2010.

The auto maker said it will road-test the SUV in the United States for the next five years.

The new Tucson has a greater driving range than the Santa Fe fuel-cell model, which was unveiled in 2002, and incorporates numerous technical advances, including a new lithium ion polymer battery located under the hood.

Its predecessor has the power plant installed under the floor.

The Tucson fuel-cell car can also start and operate in sub-zero temperatures.

Slightly lighter than its predecessor, the Tucson also gets 5 more kilowatts of power for a peak output of 80 kilowatts. Its maximum speed is rated at 150km per hour, compared to the Santa Fe's 124km per hour.

(Asia Pulse/Yonhap)

Dec 10, 2004

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