"Hydrogen-powered
fuel cell electric vehicles represent the next generation of
zero-emission vehicle technology, so we're thrilled to be a leader in
offering the mass-produced, federally certified Tucson Fuel Cell to
retail customers," said John Krafcik,
president and chief executive officer, Hyundai Motor America. "The
superior range and fast-fill refueling speed of our Tucson Fuel Cell
vehicle contrast with the lower range and slow-charge characteristics of
competing battery electric vehicles. We think fuel cell technology will
increase the adoption rate of zero-emission vehicles, and we'll all
share the environmental benefits."
FUEL CELL PRICING AND BENEFITSThe Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell will initially be offered to customers in the Los Angeles/Orange County region for $499 per month for a 36-month term, with $2,999
down. This includes the addition of a remarkable new addition to the
Hyundai Assurance program –unlimited free hydrogen refueling. "When we
spoke to customers interested in driving a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle,
many wondered what the cost of hydrogen would be," said John Krafcik.
"To ease those concerns as we build-out the hydrogen refueling network,
we thought covering this cost for these early adopters in the monthly
payment was the best approach, and consistent with other aspects of our
Hyundai Assurance program. It's our way of saying: 'This is another
thing you don't have to worry about, we've got your back.'"
In
addition, Tucson Fuel Cell owners will enjoy all the same services of
the Hyundai Equus "At Your Service" valet program. As Equus owners have
enjoyed since its introduction in 2010, should a Tucson Fuel Cell
require any service, a Hyundai dealer will pick up the vehicle and
provide a loaner, then return their car after service to their home or
business, at no charge.
Customers
interested in the Tucson Fuel Cell can indicate their interest (the
first step in the ordering process) beginning today by visiting Hyundai.com.
The first four Hyundai dealers to offer the Tucson Fuel Cell to Southern California customers are Hardin Hyundai in Anaheim, Win Hyundai in Carson, Keyes Hyundai in Van Nuys
and Tustin Hyundai, with additional Hyundai dealers to follow.
Availability of the Tucson Fuel Cell will expand to other regions of the
country consistent with the accelerating deployment of hydrogen
refueling stations.
THE NEXT-GENERATION ELECTRIC VEHICLETo
achieve societal goals of significant reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions, more and more consumers will need to drive zero-emissions
vehicles. Currently, there's an ongoing debate about the future of the
electric vehicle, with two schools of thought:
- Store more electricity on-board using more/larger batteries
- Create electricity on-board with hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology
Developed
over 100 years ago, the battery electric vehicle has made progress in
recent years, with improved affordability and energy storage capability.
But for most consumers, range anxiety and lengthy recharging time
remain formidable obstacles to using them in their daily lives. In
addition, affordable electric vehicle technology is best suited to
smaller urban vehicles, not larger family and utility vehicles that many
families require to meet all of their needs. Because of the inherent
weight and cost of batteries, and the chemistry and physics that drive
slow recharge times, today's electric vehicles have practical limits for
many consumers.
TUCSON FUEL CELL ADVANTAGESHyundai
is introducing its Tucson Fuel Cell to alleviate the limitations of
traditional battery electric vehicles. The Tucson Fuel Cell maintains
the day-to-day flexibility of the gasoline-powered Tucson
so that its driver is able to immediately enjoy the next generation of
electric vehicles without range or recharge-time compromises to their
lifestyle.
The
Tucson Fuel Cell represents the next generation of electric vehicles –
those that create their own electricity, on-board, from hydrogen.
According to UCI's Advanced Power and Energy Program's 2013 study, the
hydrogen fuel cell provides lower total well-to-wheel emissions than a
battery electric vehicle. For the Tucson Fuel Cell driver, this social
benefit is achieved with greater utility, versatility and without
compromises. Consider:
- Driving range up to 300 miles
- Capable of full refueling in under 10 minutes, similar to gasoline
- Minimal reduction in daily utility compared with its gasoline counterpart
- Instantaneous electric motor torque (221 lb-ft)
- Minimal cold-weather effects compared with battery electric vehicles
- Superb daily reliability and long-term durability
- No moving parts within the power-generating fuel cell stack
- More than two million durability test miles on Hyundai's fuel cell fleet since 2000
- Extensive crash, fire and leak testing successfully completed
- Quieter EV operation
- Zero greenhouse-gas emissions, emits only water vapor
The Tucson Fuel Cell begins mass production for the U.S. market in February 2014 at the Ulsan, Korea assembly plant that also manufactures the Tucson
gasoline-powered CUV. Manufacturing the Tucson Fuel Cell at the same
plant allows Hyundai to leverage both the high quality and
cost-efficiency of its popular gasoline-powered Tucson platform.
HYDROGEN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONSThe
benefits of hydrogen are well known -- required supplies for the U.S.
market can be produced domestically and its supply is virtually
unlimited. It can be produced by varied means – including renewable
sources such as biogas. In fact, Hyundai's Fuel Cell prototypes have
relied on hydrogen generated at the Orange County Sanitation District
near its Fountain Valley
headquarters, where methane from sewage is turned into hydrogen.
Hydrogen can even be sourced directly from water, using electrolysis to
split hydrogen molecules with electricity from renewable sources such as
wind and solar.
Further supporting hydrogen infrastructure development, California approved a plan in October 2013 to develop up to 100 hydrogen refueling stations in the state over the next several years. This recent California initiative dovetails with increased government support of hydrogen infrastructure development at the federal level, such as H2USA.
HYDROGEN: LOWEST WELL-TO-WHEEL EMISSIONSAccording to 2013 studies on well-to-wheel greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG) by the Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California, Irvine,
hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles have the lowest overall emission
levels of all alternative fuel entries. Well-to-wheel emissions for
hydrogen vehicles sourced from natural gas are lower than battery
electric vehicles, and less than half of equivalent gasoline vehicle
emissions. Even more impressive, hydrogen emissions sourced from biogas
are a tiny fraction of equivalent gasoline vehicle emissions, yielding
an extremely high factor of long-range emissions sustainability.
FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY: HOW IT WORKSHyundai's
fuel cell effectively replaces the battery pack used in an electric
vehicle by generating electricity from hydrogen through an
electrochemical process that does not involve hydrogen combustion, with
no moving parts within the fuel cell stack.
The fuel cell electrochemical process is as follows:
- Hydrogen enters the anode, air (oxygen) enters the cathode
- Catalyst splits the hydrogen electrons and protons
- Electrolyte conducts the positively-charged ions while blocking the electrons
- Electrons are used to create an external circuit, generating electricity
- Catalyst combines the hydrogen ions and electrons with oxygen to create water and heat energy
- A single fuel cell produces approximately one volt; fuel cells are "stacked" to meet voltage requirements
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