cars news 10: Hyundai Plans Next-Gen Fuel Cell for 2018

Hyundai became the first automaker to offer a mass-produced fuel cell vehicle when it brought out a special version of its Tucson crossover in 2013. Now, Hyundai is ready to take its fuel cell technology further.

In 2018, Hyundai will debut an all-new fuel cell vehicle, reports Automotive News. Hyundai’s director of eco-vehicle development, Ahn Byung-ki, told the publication that the new vehicle will lie “somewhere between a CUV and SUV.”

The new vehicle will have a smaller fuel cell and a larger battery, the report says. The electric motor will boast a higher output, but will be physically smaller than the one in the Tucson Fuel Cell.

Hyundai’s new fuel cell will debut just in time for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Hyundai is taking full advantage of the opportunity, as it plans to market the new vehicle at the event. Hyundai may also introduce a fuel cell bus at the games.

“It’s a big event. That’s always a good opportunity for PR,” Ahn told AN.

Hyundai now leases its Tucson Fuel Cell vehicle in California for $499 a month, plus free hydrogen fuel. In February, Hyundai announced Tucson Fuel Cell drivers have accumulated more than 1 million miles on roads in Southern California.

In all, the automaker has produced fewer than 1,000 copies of its fuel cell vehicle. But by 2020, it’s looking to roll out 28 new green vehicles across all of its brands. These will include 10 hybrids, eight plug-in hybrids, eight EVs, and two fuel cell vehicles.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)