July 2003

- Brian Byrne

Hyundai to roll out hydrogen 2004

24 July 2003: Hyundai will have fuel cell cars on the road next year, under lease to participating fleet operators.

Hyundai and UTC Fuel Cells have joined forces to develop a new fuel cell power plant capable of operating in freezing conditions – one of the remaining hurdles in the development of hydrogen fuel cell power for road cars.

The two companies will work jointly to develop a freeze-capable fuel cell power plant and integrate it into a Hyundai SUV platform. Hyundai plans to make fuel cell vehicles available for lease by fleet operators in the US by 2004.

Fuel cell power plants, which combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity without environmentally harmful emissions, produce and consume water.

UTC Fuel Cells and Hyundai have worked together on fuel cell vehicle development since 2000, when the companies unveiled the first Hyundai Santa Fe fuel cell SUV at the California Fuel Cell Partnership opening ceremony.

A total of six Hyundai fuel cell Santa Fe prototypes were produced under the previous agreement.

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