The LHP has initiated over £50m worth of hydrogen projects, attracting and rolling out new hydrogen buses, taxis, scooters, refuelling stations, materials handling vehicles and fuel cell Combined Heat and Power units to London. Hyundai will provide its expertise in fuel cell electric vehicles to LHP, helping to drive development of the infrastructure needed to realise a hydrogen economy.

Kit Malthouse, deputy major and chair of the LHP, said: ‘Hyundai will provide invaluable insights and bring global experience to the Mayor’s innovative “smart” low-carbon, low-emission transport activities. I welcome their commitment to reducing carbon and growing the Capital’s hydrogen economy.'

Tony Whitehorn, president & CEO of Hyundai Motor UK, commented: ‘Hyundai Motor Company is proud to be joining the London Hydrogen Partnership, helping to create a future for the capital that’s cleaner and more sustainable. Hydrogen delivers considerable environmental benefits and we are looking forward to working closely with the other partners of the LHP to drive forward its widespread introduction.’

Hyundai’s ix35 Fuel Cell is the first mass-produced FCEV and follows in the footsteps of the Santa FE FCEV introduced in 2000.

The car is being used by the European Commission-backed Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) to demonstrate the real-world benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology to members of the European Parliament, European Commission officials and other policymakers.

Hyundai is also planning to produce a thousand examples of the ix35 Fuel Cell by 2015 for lease to public and private fleets, primarily in Europe, where the European Commission has established a road map for construction of a pan-European hydrogen fuelling station network.  

The carmaker also operates a dedicated fuel cell research division at its Eco Technology Research Institute in Korea.

Whitehorn added: ‘As the first and currently only manufacturer in the world to series-produce a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, we believe we will play an invaluable role in demonstrating the benefits of this technology. The availability of the innovative Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell shows that hydrogen is a practical source of clean and sustainable energy. The fact that this pioneering vehicle is being leased to public and private fleets today will help LHP create investment and employment opportunities as hydrogen infrastructure is developed.