Hyundai a 'Clean Air Champion'

The federal government has recognised Hyundai Australia for its work promoting a "green motoring future" with its fuel cell electric vehicle program.

Environment minister Greg Hunt made the announcement yesterday that Hyundai was now a 'Clean Air Champion' under the auspices of the National Clean Air Agreement. Currently Hyundai is assessing the viability of automotive fuel cell technology for the local market and has been introducing stakeholders to the concept with drives in its ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle.

Back in April it was Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane given the chance to sample the drive system of the future. At the time Mr Macfarlane made what at least one vehicle importer considered to be ill-chosen remarks.

This week, it was Greg Hunt's turn to find out more about the ix35 Fuel Cell. The Environment Minister made the trip as a passenger in the left-hand drive SUV the short distance from Parliament House to Canberra's National Convention Centre. There, he addressed over 800 local government councillors attending the annual meeting of the Australian Local Government Association, and announced Hyundai's new-found status as a Clean Air Champion.

"The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell offers a technology that can reduce Australia's urban air pollution and our greenhouse gas emissions. It is in a sense a modern miracle – it's a really exciting pointer to future green motoring that can deliver cleaner air for our nation," said the Environment Minister, as quoted in a press release.

"We are excited that Hyundai has decided to come on board as a Clean Air Champion. The work they are doing in educating the public and media on this totally clean technology is an important part of building the momentum for viable green motoring options."

The ix35 Fuel Cell has a range of 600km and water vapour is the only emission it produces. Refuelling takes seven minutes and Hyundai has set up a hydrogen bowser at its Australian head office, located at Macquarie Park in New South Wales. While hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles in South Korea is derived as a by-product of petroleum production, in Australia it's readily produced from sustainable solar power, which is a sustainable form of energy.

The government's Clean Air Champions program has only commenced this month, but will provide on-going encouragement to the private sector finding new ways of reducing greenhouse gases and other gases that might be considered noxious.