The ix35 Fuel Cell is based on the conventionally-powered version of the compact SUV, but uses a fuel cell stack to convert hydrogen into electricity for its electric motor with water vapour as the only tailpipe emission. After 2015, Hyundai hopes to have brought production costs down and expects the refuelling infrastructure to be in place to make retail sales viable.

In the meantime, the vehicles will be leased to private and public sector fleets, with this first car bound for Denmark, one of 15 ordered by the Municipality of Copenhagen as part of an ongoing initiative to become carbon-free by 2025. Two ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles are also being supplied to Skåne, Sweden.

Speaking at the ceremony held as the vehicle rolled off the production line, Mang Woo Park, mayor of Ulsan city, said: ‘Assembly-line production of fuel cell vehicle marks a crucial milestone in the history of the automobile industry not just in Korea, but throughout the world. By supplying more hydrogen refueling stations to support the eco-friendly fuel cell vehicles produced, we will make Ulsan the landmark for eco-friendly automobiles.’

The vehicle will be displayed at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, held in March.