Hyundai Nexo

Is hydrogen the fuel of the future? It’s a radical and provocative question that’s often immediately dismissed by battery-electric car drivers, but can Hyundai’s latest fuel cell powered car change common perceptions

- Jonathan Musk

Carmakers including Hyundai – which also produces battery electric cars, by the way – reckon hydrogen is still the future fuel of choice, thanks to the convenience it offers with respect to ease and speed of refueling a vehicle, as well as the relative energy density that ensures a relatively small package enables an electric car to have a long driving range.

Replacing the aging ix35 FCEV, Nexo is Hyundai’s latest generation of hydrogen fuel cell powered electric car. It’s a luxury electric SUV that just happens to have three tanks of hydrogen, in place of a battery, to provide power to the motors.

The setup is familiar, with much of the electric components having been borrowed from the Kona Electric, including the motor and regenerative braking system.

From the outside, Nexo looks surprisingly ordinary. That’s on purpose because the Hyundai Motor Group (including Kia) hopes to build half a million hydrogen vehicles by 2030. The Nexo, therefore, is aiming to pave the way in more way than one. Firstly, it looks striking yet conventional, with the now-typical aggressive front ‘face’ and an SUV silhouette. Inside there’s room for five comfortably, though it’s not as big as it looks, fitting in-between the Tucson and Santa Fe in length. Due to the triplet of gas storage tanks, the boot size isn’t exactly voluminous, but it’s ample for shopping, buggies or the family dog (but not all at the same time).