EVs, hybrids a stepping stone: Hyundai

Hyundai's impressive efforts in electric vehicle and hybrid technology are being utilised as a test bed for the company's future plans to produce hydrogen-powered vehicles by as early as 2012.

The news gives the Korean manufacturer a three year jump on competitors including Toyota, Honda and BMW, as well as a nifty pricing lead. Hyundai says its first commercially available Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle, most likely based on the ix35 SUV, could start from just $50,000.

A limited run of 500 vehicles will be trialled in specific markets ahead of full scale production of up to 10,000 units per annum in 2015.

Speaking at a company gathering in Seoul, Hyundai president and CEO, Steve S. Yang told the Carsales Network that the technology demonstrated in vehicles such as the Blue-Will (as seen at this year's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney) and i10-based BlueOn all-electric car is being evaluated as part of a bigger picture.

"The car's electrical systems, motors and batteries will eventually be used to drive hydrogen powered vehicles that emit only water vapour," said Yang. "Lithium polymer batteries will be charged by hydrogen generators. The stored voltage will then drive an electric motor."

It's not the first time Hyundai has trialled hydrogen technology -- with a Tucson model driven across the United States in 2007 and ix35 Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle, as demonstrated at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

Hyundai shared the information following a brief drive program at the manufacturer's research and development facility in Namyang, South Korea where the new i10 all-electric vehicle and upcoming Elantra Hybrid were made available for a quick steer.

Yang said the Korean firm aims to have a "reasonable percentage" of all vehicles it produces and sells by 2020 powered by hydrogen with the first markets likely to be South Korea and the United States.

Apparently unwilling to rule out any option, Hyundai is also progressing with vehicles that will operate on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Flex and Bio Fuels (including E85), diesel, petrol, electricity as well as various hybrid combinations, as part of its Blue Drive sustainable mobility program.

Picture: Fuel cell Tucson outside Namyang research centre.

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