Hyundai’s Revolutionary IX35

Hyundai’s Revolutionary IX35 FCEV

We are currently living through a period of great change. The green revolution has altered the way we perceive the car industry; forcing company’s to shift their established ideas to provide alternative energy sources. Each manufacturer has produced their own interpretation of this revolutionary impetus, experimenting with design and engine techniques that have since paved the way for others. Of these company’s, Hyundai has recently released a vehicle that may be a game changer, alerting the way we look at the car industry.

Debuting at the EcoVelocity event at London Battersea Power Station, Hyundai has revealed the ix35 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle. With many car companies focusing on electric or hybrid powered vehicles, Hyundai has taken a step a step into relatively unexplored direction of hydrogen power.

Being the most abundant element in the universe, it’s strange that more companies have not invested into this area. Being Hyundai’s third generation FCEV, they’ve learnt a great deal from their past models. With each year the company is pushing towards a zero emissions future and it looks like they’ve getting quite close.

The engine has the same power as the conventional engine, with a range of about 360 miles and comes armed with burst from 0-62 mph in just less than 13 seconds. Limited to 100 mph, the fuel cells of this vehicle operate on a rather interesting sub-zero temperature range.

What sets hydrogen vehicles apart from other alternative energy sources is that when a car exerts energy rather than emoting pollutants into the atmosphere it simply expels water vapour. They work based on fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electricity. Currently the ideal model for our weary planet, it seems that actually getting funding and producing these types of vehicles can be quite complicated as well as costly. Power stations are needed to allow such vehicles to fuel up not to mention a safe way store it.

The company is also featuring its i10 as well as i20 Blue models at the London event. The former car will be powered based on a 1-liter 3-cylinder petrol engine, compressing fuel usage to 67 mph. The latter vehicle will be powered based on a CRDi 4-cylinder engine. Only producing 76 mph. Because of very low emissions these vehicles will be except from the London Congestion Charge.

Whatever the future hold, Hyundai seems to have things figured out. Focusing on alternatives to the present day problems, the company is rushing into popular areas that will certainly be explored more in the oncoming decades. Let us hope that they succeed so that we may all drive these exciting new vehicles.

Michal Kniec