ACT government orders 20 Hyundai fuel-cell vehicles

Does the future lie in battery power, or hydrogen fuel-cells? As protagonists of both concepts flag the individual merits, batteries and hydrogen fuel cells are the two dominant power sourcing possibilities for the upcoming generation of electric cars (EVs).

And, as is pointedly made obvious by the rise and rise of battery-powered Tesla vehicles such as the Model S sedan and Model X SUV – and the imminent Model 3 – it’s the former that is at present scoring the big goals.

But hydrogen fuel-cells are far from fading into the distance and, if you want proof, Hyundai has just secured of an order from the ACT government for 20 hydrogen-fuelled vehicles for the Renewable Transport Fuels Test Berth in Canberra from 2018.

The project is aimed at having the capacity to provide fuel-grade hydrogen for more than 1000 fuel-cell EVs travelling an average of 14,000km a year. To ensure the project’s squeaky-clean green credentials, the electricity is produced by wind power.

The $23 million Test Berth project will be delivered by French renewable energy company Neoen, investors Megawatt Capital and electrification specialist Siemens, via a contract with the ACT government and wind farm company Hornsdale Windfarm Stage 3.

Hyundai’s contribution will be its next-generation fuel-cell EV – expected to be an SUV offering an 800km driving range, which will replace the previous-generation ix35/Tucson Fuel Cell that the company tells us is the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered vehicle.

In parallel developments, the fuel-cell and battery-centric industries are citing specific advantages over each other in the search for the most practical solution.

Fuel-cell advocates – including former federal industry minister Ian Macfarlane reckon the fact a hydrogen-powered vehicle can be topped up as quickly as a regular petrol-powered system offers a big advantage over pure battery-powered EVs. Even with the charge-speed advantages of Tesla’s Supercharger systems, it still takes something like half an hour to top up the batteries.

Infrastructure is a big issue too. At present the only place in Australia where a hydrogen-fuelled car can be filled up is at Hyundai’s headquarters in Macquarie Park, Sydney – which is not such a problem because there’s only one Hyundai ix35 in the country.

On the other hand, Tesla is steadily building its Supercharger facilities, even if it’s only Australia’s east coast that is currently being supported.

And a battery-powered EV can be hooked up overnight to a domestic power supply, which is usually enough to set up a Tesla Model S for 400km or so of running. That convenience doesn’t apply to hydrogen.

On the other hand, hydrogen-fuelled EVs don’t suffer the capacity losses traditionally inflicted on batteries in cold conditions.

Speaking after confirmation of the 20-EV order for the Renewable Transport Fuels Test Birth, Hyundai Motor Company Australia CEO, Mr Charlie Kim, said: “We commend the vision and ambition of everyone responsible for the Renewable Transport Fuels Test Berth and Hornsdale Wind Farm Stage 3.

"We hope this brilliant project inspires others to see the potential of hydrogen as a future fuel for our cars. This first small step toward a zero-emissions transport solution for Australia is very significant and we are proud to be involved.”