Hyundai plants Hume-by-Hydrogen seed

Hyundai Australia wants to lead the way with the introduction of fuel cell vehicles Down Under. What's more, it would like to see Sydney and Melbourne linked by a hydrogen highway.

That's the intent of the Korean brand's announcement that it will install a solar-powered hydrogen reforming and refuelling station in Sydney, along with the confirmed arrival of the first example of a production ix35 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Down Under.

Claimed to be Australia’s only hydrogen refueller, the solar-powered station will be located at Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) headquarters in Macquarie Park, Sydney. The single ix35 Fuel Cell will begin testing and demonstration drives early in 2015, says Hyundai.

Hyundai is one of only a handful of companies to have commenced series production of fuel cell vehicles. The ix35 is already on sale in the USA and other markets. Its battery bank is charged onboard via the hydrogen-fed fuel cell.

HMCA chief Charlie Kim said the arrival of Australia’s first FCEV "marks a significant first step in developing a hydrogen fuel infrastructure in this country". However, the local Hyundai boss is realistic about the future for the 'alternative' fuel and so-powered vehicles.

"We're excited by hydrogen technology and what it could mean for the future of transport. However, the challenge of creating and distributing hydrogen through a viable, sustainable network is a significant one.

“We are not a political entity, nor are we aligned with any political party. However, we have seen in other countries that governments play a crucial role in developing hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

"To that end, HMCA’s Fuel Cell Team has visited Canberra on a number of occasions over the last two years to brief federal ministers about our hydrogen car. The reaction has been very positive,” Kim stated.

Hyundai's vision includes a proposal for a ‘Hume by Hydrogen’ link between Sydney and Melbourne.

"Hume by Hydrogen could link Australia’s two largest cities via the nation’s capital," Kim proffered.

"It would require four refuelling stations – in Sydney, Canberra, Albury and Melbourne – and could see hydrogen vehicles – including buses – running in and between these cities emitting nothing but water vapour," the Hyundai chief stated.

"We're hoping our ix35 Fuel Cell helps to start a meaningful conversation about a hydrogen infrastructure in Australia for the benefit of future generations,” Kim told motoring.com.au.

Hyundai recently set a record for the longest journey completed by a vehicle on a single tank of hydrogen using a ix35. That drive was around 700km through Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

In normal usage, the vehicle claims an all-electric range of almost 600km.

HMCA says the FCEV is "as practical and useful as a standard petrol- or diesel-powered ix35, with comparable interior space and similar performance".

Toyota recently launched its Mirai FHEV in Japan and the US. However, earlier this year Toyota Australia told motoring.com.au it had no plans to sell or even trial the vehicle Down Under.