Hyundai Tucson ix35 Hydrogen FCV Readies for 2012 Rollout

Hydrogen Cars

Next week at the Geneva Motor Show, the Hyundai Tucson ix35 hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is being shown off in anticipation of its limited rollout in 2012. And it is about time for an extreme makeover (Okay, perhaps just a moderate upgrade).

The Hyundai Tucson FCEV was first introduced in 2004. The vehicle had a top speed of 93 mph and a driving range of 186 miles. The Hyundai Tucson ix35 FCEV however has a top speed of around 99 mph and a driving range of over 400 miles.

The electric motor of the Hyundai Tucson ix35 is rated at 134 hp and the Korean automaker is introducing various ways to reduce production costs in anticipation of the rollout in just 2 years.

For instance, inside the fuel cell, graphite is being switched to a less costly metal, induction motors are being used rather than permanent-magnet and lithium batteries are replacing ultracapacitors.

It’s most likely that the first Hyundai Tucson ix35 hydrogen FCVs will rollout out on the South Korean Hydrogen Highway. Hyundai has stated that it expects a few thousand models of the Tucson ix35 to rollout at first.

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