Hyundai to operate test project for hydrogen-fueled vehicles in China

By Park Sae-jin Posted : April 10, 2018, 14:31 Updated : April 10, 2018, 14:31

[Courtesy of Hyundai Motor]



SEOUL -- As an apparent catch-up for its business setback in the world's largest car market, South Korea's top carmaker, Hyundai Motor, hopes to test run hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in China this year.

Unlike other global players which focused on the development of full electric vehicles, Hyundai has pinned much hope on FCEVs, and its new FCEV car, NEXO, hit the domestic market in March. NEXO's overseas sales will be made in the second half of this year.

According to industry officials, Hyundai will carry out an FCEV test probably in July in a joint project involving its Chinese branch, Hyundai Motor Group China Ltd., and China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, an affiliate of China's Department of Science and Technology.

Hyundai will use NEXO for its first test run in China, followed by hydrogen fuel cell buses, trucks and commercial vehicles. The carmaker successfully carried out the test run of three hydrogen fuel cell buses at the venue of this year's Winter Olympics in the eastern ski resort of Pyeongchang.

Hyundai and its Chinese counterparts are in talks on selecting places for the test operation of FCEVs. China, which regards hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as a promising industry, plans to put one million FCEVs on the road by 2030 and build some 1,000 hydrogen charge stations by 2030.

Negotiations between Hyundai and Chinese partners cover research and development, infrastructure for charging stations and parts making. China favors FCEVs because they are more fuel-efficient than full electric vehicles and have a long driving range. FCEV commercial vehicles can carry more passengers and are easier to set up charging stations.



 
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