Hyundai reveals fuel-cell van concept

HYUNDAI has used the 2016 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover to debut its fuel-cell-powered H350 concept, highlighting the potential for emissions-free motoring in the light-commercial vehicle (LCV) segment.

The H350 Fuel Cell Concept uses a powertrain that puts our 100kW of power and 300Nm of torque, has a driving range of 422km and a 175-litre hydrogen tank that can be fully refilled in under four minutes, all while emitting nothing but water.

The powertrain is stored in the engine bay as well as under the cargo area, however Hyundai claims that no storage space is lost over the internal combustion engine versions.

Depending on the length of the wheelbase, the cargo area has a capacity of either 10.5 or 12.9 cubic metres and is able to store up to five standard European pallets or 14 passenger seats.

Its 100kW/300Nm powertrain allows it to reach a top speed of 150km/h, and its power output places it just behind similar top-spec four-cylinder diesel-powered rivals such as the 120kW/360Nm Renault Master and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, as well as the 130kW/400Nm Fiat Ducato.

The H350’s powertrain consists of hydrogen tanks, fuel-cell stack, high-voltage battery pack, inverter and electric motor.

The hydrogen tanks store 7.05kg of compressed hydrogen, which is broken down by the fuel-cell stack into protons and electrons. The electricity produced by the fuel-cell stack is then stored in a lithium-polymer battery pack, and the inverter converts the energy to an alternating current that powers the electric motor.

Its quiet and emissions-free powertrain would make it ideal for night-time deliveries and city transport as some European cities begin to draft legislation to ban internal-combustion engines in urban centres.

Hyundai has been one of the global leaders in automotive fuel-cell technology, starting when it opened the world’s first mass-production facility for fuel-cell vehicles in February 2013, and continued with the development of the ix35 Fuel Cell SUV.

Recently the Australian push for fuel-cell technology was given a boost when the ACT government purchased 20 next-generation Hyundai FCEVs (fuel cell electric vehicles), as part of an initiative to boost fuel-cell infrastructure via the construction of a wind farm that will produce enough hydrogen to power 1000 FCEVs per year.

The infrastructure is planned to be in place by 2018, and for now the only FCEV charging station available in Australia is in Hyundai’s headquarters in Macquarie Park, Sydney.