In front of an audience of policy makers, investors and industry representatives, Dr. Sae Hoon Kim, Hyundai’s Principal Fuel Cell Research Engineer, explained the company’s strategy for sustainable future mobility, and presented the innovative zero-emission Hyundai ix35 fuel-cell electric vehicle.

Hyundai has plans to commercialise its fuel cell technology by the end of 2012 with an initial production run of 1,000 vehicles. The carmaker will supply fuel cell vehicles to government and private fleets leading up to mass production, scheduled for 2015.

The ix35 is the third-generation fuel-cell vehicle from Hyundai, and designed to present a strong case for being a viable everyday car, retaining the safety, equipment, convenience and performance of the conventionally-powered ix35, yet producing zero exhaust emissions.

Equipped with a 100 kW fuel cell stack and two hydrogen storage tanks, the ix35 FCEV can travel a total of 325 miles on a single refuelling and reach a maximum speed of 100mph. 

Among those who tested the hydrogen-powered car was Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Enterprise and chairman of the London Hydrogen Partnership.

Mr Malthouse commented: 'I am really glad that Hyundai is making such a commitment to hydrogen because I firmly believe that it is a vital part of the energy future of the globe, particularly where vehicles are concerned. It solves all sorts of problems; oil dependency and emissions; but aside from everything else, you can’t stop the advance of technology and the fuel cell is the future of mobile power.’

Also present at the conference was Dr Graham Cooley, chief executive officer of ITM Power, a company which – along with Hyundai – is involved in a project to ensure the UK is well positioned for the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.  The programme – UKH2Mobility – brings together three Government departments and industrial participants from the utility, gas, infrastructure and global car manufacturing sectors to evaluate the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles in the UK.

The conference, supported by the Mayor of London, was chaired by journalist and TV presenter Quentin Willson, and attracted investors and transport industry professionals.  Other speakers at the conference included Patrick Head, co-founder of Williams Formula 1; Dominic Emery, Chief Development Officer at BP Alternative Energy; and Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport.