Hydrogen is without doubt one of the most abundant parts of the universe, and it has the potential to power vehicles that emit nothing but water vapor. Nonetheless, harnessing hydrogen for transportation shouldn’t be a straightforward process because it requires advanced and costly applied sciences to provide, retailer, and use it. One of many methods to beat these challenges is to make use of hydrogen gasoline cells, which convert hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy and water without combustion or air pollution.
Hyundai, one of many main automakers on the planet, has been creating and selling hydrogen gasoline cell autos (FCEVs) as a viable alternative to traditional gasoline and diesel autos, in addition to battery electrical autos (BEVs). Hyundai’s flagship FCEV mannequin is the Nexo, a compact crossover SUV that was launched in 2018 as a successor to the Tucson FCEV. The Nexo is without doubt one of the few FCEVs out there available on the market in the present day, together with the Toyota Mirai and the Honda Readability Gas Cell.
In this article, we’ll discover the options, advantages, and challenges of the Hyundai Nexo and the way it compares to different zero-emission autos. We may even take a look at a few of the real-world functions and achievements of the Nexo and what the longer term holds for hydrogen mobility.
What’s the Hyundai Nexo?
The Hyundai Nexo is a hydrogen gasoline cell electrical car (FCEV) that makes use of a gasoline cell stack to generate electrical energy from hydrogen and oxygen, which powers an electrical motor that drives the wheels. The Nexo has a spread of as much as 380 miles (611 km) on a single tank of hydrogen, in accordance with the EPA ranking. The Nexo might be refuelled in about 5 minutes at a hydrogen station, much like a gasoline car. The one emission from the Nexo is water vapour, which might be collected and reused for varied functions.
The Nexo relies on a dedicated platform that was designed particularly for FCEVs, in contrast to the Tucson FCEV, which used a modified model of the Tucson’s platform. The Nexo’s platform permits for a lighter, stronger, and extra spacious car with improved efficiency, effectiveness, and security. The Nexo has a smooth and futuristic design, with aerodynamic options, LED lights, and hidden door handles. The Nexo’s inside is spacious and cosy, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a wi-fi charging pad, and a Krell premium sound system. The Nexo additionally has a big cargo area of 29.6 cubic toes, which might be expanded to 56.5 cubic toes by folding the rear seats.
The Nexo has a 120 kW (163 PS) electrical motor that delivers 291 lb-ft (395 Nm) of torque, which permits it to speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds and attain a high velocity of 111 mph (179 km/h). The Nexo’s gasoline cell stack consists of 414 cells, with a complete output of 95 kW. The Nexo additionally has a 40 kW lithium-ion battery that stores vitality from regenerative braking and offers further energy throughout acceleration. The Nexo has three hydrogen tanks with a total capability of 41.4 gallons (156.6 litres) and 12.4 lb (5.6 kg) of hydrogen. The Nexo’s gasoline consumption is rated at 60 mpg equal (3.9 litres equal per 100 km) by the EPA.
What are the advantages of the Hyundai Nexo?
The Hyundai Nexo provides a number of advantages that make it a pretty and aggressive zero-emission car. A few of these advantages are:
- Environmental friendliness: The Nexo doesn’t produce any dangerous emissions or greenhouse gases, in contrast to gasoline and diesel autos. The Nexo additionally reduces the dependence on fossil fuels and contributes to the diversification of vitality sources. The Nexo’s water emissions can be utilised for varied functions, corresponding to watering vegetation, cleansing, or consuming. The Nexo additionally has an excessive effectivity of 60%, which signifies that it makes use of much less vitality to travel the same distance as a gasoline car.
- Efficiency and reliability: The Nexo has excessive efficiency and reliability because of its superior gasoline cell expertise and electrical drive system. The Nexo has a clean and quiet journey, with prompt torque and responsive handling. The Nexo additionally has an extended range and a brief refuelling time, which make it appropriate for long-distance journeys and day-to-day commuting. The Nexo’s gasoline cell system is sturdy and resilient, with a lifespan of greater than 10 years or 100,000 miles. The Nexo additionally has cold-start functionality, which permits it to function in temperatures as low as -22°F (-30°C).
- Security and comfort: The Nexo has an excessive level of security and comfort because of its sturdy construction, superior driver help methods, and sensible options. The Nexo’s construction is designed to guard the occupants and the gasoline cell system from impacts, fires, and leaks. The Nexo additionally has a complete airbag system, a blind-spot view monitor, lane-following help, motorway driving help, ahead collision-avoidance help, and distant sensible parking help. The Nexo additionally has a sensible air purification system, which filters out 99.9% of superb mud and shows the air quality inside and out of the car. The Nexo additionally has a sensible regeneration system, which adjusts the regenerative braking stage in accordance with driving situations and the motive force’s preferences.
- Innovation and management: The Nexo represents Hyundai’s innovation and management within the discipline of hydrogen mobility, which is without doubt one of the key pillars of Hyundai’s imaginative and prescient decision to turn out to be a sensible mobility answer supplier. The Nexo showcases Hyundai’s cutting-edge expertise and design, in addition to its dedication to sustainability and social accountability. The Nexo additionally demonstrates Hyundai’s potential to broaden the hydrogen ecosystem and create a hydrogen society, where hydrogen is used not just for transportation but also for energy technology, heating, and industrial functions.
What are the challenges of the Hyundai Nexo?
Regardless of its advantages, the Hyundai Nexo additionally faces some challenges that restrict its adoption and recognition. A few of these challenges are:
- Value and availability: The Nexo is a comparatively costly car, with a starting price of $58,735 for the Blue trim and $62,185 for the Restricted trim within the U.S. market. The Nexo can also not be broadly out there, as it is just bought in select markets where there’s enough hydrogen infrastructure and demand. At present, the Nexo is simply out there in South Korea, Japan, the U.S. (solely in California), and a few European nations, corresponding to Germany, France, Norway, and the UK. The Nexo’s manufacturing and gross sales are additionally restricted by the provision and value of hydrogen, which continues to be scarce and costly in comparison with gasoline and electrical energy.
- Infrastructure and coverage: The Nexo is dependent upon the supply and accessibility of hydrogen fueling stations, which are nonetheless only a few and far between in most areas. In response to the Worldwide Power Company, there have been solely 470 hydrogen stations worldwide as of the top of 2019, with 330 of them in Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe, and 85 of them in California. The Nexo additionally lacks the assistance and incentives from the federal government and the general public that are essential for the event and promotion of hydrogen mobility. The Nexo doesn’t profit from the identical tax credits, rebates, subsidies, and exemptions that can be provided to battery electrical autos in lots of nations and states. The Nexo additionally faces competitors and scepticism from different zero-emission autos, particularly battery electrical autos, which have a bigger market share and a stronger repute.
- Notion and consciousness: The Nexo suffers from a low stage of notion and consciousness among the many shoppers and stakeholders who aren’t conversant in or considering hydrogen gasoline cell autos. The Nexo additionally faces some misconceptions and myths about hydrogen, corresponding to its security, effectiveness, and environmental impression. The Nexo wants to break these boundaries and educate the general public in regards to the benefits and potential of hydrogen mobility, in addition to dispelling doubts and fears about hydrogen. The Nexo additionally wants to boost its attraction and attractiveness by providing extra decisions, options, and advantages to the purchasers.