Hyundai Nexo: Korean Flagship Project

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Hyundai Nexo: Korean Flagship Project
Hyundai Nexo: Korean Flagship Project

Video: Hyundai Nexo: Korean Flagship Project

Video: Hyundai Nexo: Korean Flagship Project
Video: Hyundai NEXO Autonomous Fuel Cell Press Drive | PyeonChang, Korea. 2024, March
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The Hyundai Nexo will be launched in August. The fuel cell vehicle should have a range of 800 kilometers. The model is considered a flagship project for the importer.

The Asians set the tone for fuel cells. After Toyota with the Mirai and Hyundai with the ix35 have been offering their customers hydrogen vehicles in series since 2013, the German manufacturers have nothing on offer. So far you have only shown concepts at trade fairs, but they have so far disappeared again. Although Daimler will be bringing a fuel cell vehicle onto the market this year with the Mercedes GLC - the Japanese and Koreans remain pioneers.

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Hyundai Nexo arrives in August

Hyundai even added a second vehicle in August - the Nexo. The technology carrier was shown only a few days ago at the CES in Las Vegas, now at the German headquarters of the importer in Offenbach. With a view to the Nexo, the Koreans speak of a “lighthouse project” for the importer. "Anyone who masters the fuel cell can also master all other types of electromobility," says spokesman Bernhard Voss.

Hyundai believes it has mastered the fuel cell. The new Nexo should have a range of 800 kilometers, which is 30 percent more than the ix35 Fuel Cell. Well, this value is based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), but in real operation it should still be well over 600 kilometers, says Oliver Gutt, Head of Product Management at Hyundai Germany in an interview with Autogazette. The Nexo has not only increased its range, but also its other performance data. With 163 hp, 27 hp more power is available than with the ix35. This ensures that the Nexo sprints to 100 km / h three seconds faster than its predecessor.

Expansion of the petrol station network

The cockpit of the Hyundai Nexo
The cockpit of the Hyundai Nexo

While electric cars need at least eight hours to charge the batteries at a domestic socket, the three hydrogen tanks of the Nexo can be refueled in under five minutes. This also brings you to the infrastructure. The inadequate charging network for e-cars, along with the short range and the high price, is one of the reasons why there has been no run on electric cars so far despite the purchase bonus.

But what about hydrogen filling stations in Germany? There are currently only 42 stations nationwide, 33 more are under construction. In the past, this incomplete network was cited by German manufacturers as one of the reasons why, in contrast to Toyota and Hyundai, they were so reluctant to use fuel cells.

But why only 42 stations? In view of the range of a fuel cell vehicle, it is as good as impossible to get stuck in Germany with a little caution. Of course - and Hyundai makes no secret of that - an even better gas station network is needed. Especially abroad - and here in Eastern Europe. "The more the better."

There should be 88 hydrogen stations in Germany by the end of the year. The beginning has been made, as implementation was announced at the end of 2018. Despite a large number of announcements with a view to expanding the infrastructure, there have been repeated delays in the past. But now everything should get better - and maybe it will too. Because after Daimler is now sending the GLC into the race and a German player is entering the race, the topic may finally gain momentum.

Hyundai Ionic surprised sales

Hyundai is currently not saying anything about a possible sales expectation for the Nexo. The reluctance is understandable. Because after the purchase premium has not caused a run on e-cars, such a prognosis would be like looking into the crystal ball. 500 units of the Hyundai ix 35 Fuel Cell (price 65,450 euros) were sold throughout Europe, 150 of them in Germany. Most of them were commercial customers, including Linde. The group has integrated 50 vehicles into its car sharing fleet “BeeZero”.

Hyundai cannot rule out the fact that the discussion about driving bans for diesel vehicles or the elimination of diesel subsidies will trigger greater demand for alternative drives. But one doesn't like to calculate with such imponderables either. You can see the topic in its entire value chain anyway. For the group, this also includes the use of fuel cell technology, for example for buses and commercial vehicles. There is a lot of sales potential here, as Gutt admits.

Hyundai Kona is coming at the same time

Rear of the Hyundai Nexo
Rear of the Hyundai Nexo

In any case, Hyundai Germany currently sees itself well positioned in the range of sustainable drives. Reference is made to its product portfolio: for example, the Ioniq is offered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and purely electric car. But that's not all: At the same time as the Nexo, there will also be the E version of the Kona.

In any case, the current demand for its alternative drives has exceeded its own expectations, even if the absolute numbers are manageable. But that's similar with other manufacturers. The Ioniq was expected to sell 2,500 units in 2017 - the figure was 5,000. Of these, 2,500 units were purely electric, 60 percent of the other 2,500 units were plug-in hybrids and the rest were hybrids. The Nexo will then expand the portfolio from August. At what price? That's not decided yet. Ideally, however, it should be priced in such that it can also benefit from the purchase premium. But a car must not cost more than 60,000 euros net.

But sales is one thing, sustainability is another - and this is where the Koreans are consistently aligning their strategy. The Vice-President of Hyundai Motors, Woong-Chul Yang, had already said that at CES. The Nexo is further proof that its cutting-edge technologies are consistently used to “reduce global warming.” A goal that really cannot be objected to.

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