Hyundai opens hydrogen refueller

Australia’s first hydrogen vehicle refuelling station has been opened this morning at Hyundai’s national headquarters in the Sydney suburb of Macquarie Park.

The honours were performed by Federal Industry and Science Minister Ian MacFarlane, who also unveiled the experimental hydrogen-powered ix35 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle that will be refuelled there, as well as announcing a hydrogen industry think tank.

The ix35 FCEV has actually been in Australia since June 2014 performing trials and acting as the centrepiece of a campaign for hydrogen-fuelled cars to gain acceptance in the Australian car market.

Hyundai has built its campaign around the concept of a hydrogen highway, proposing that a hydrogen refuelling infrastructure be built along the Hume Freeway between Sydney and Melbourne.

“Our initial discussions with Federal Ministers about our hydrogen car have been met with a very positive reaction,” said Charlie Kim, Chief Executive Officer, Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA).

“The presence of the Federal Minister for Industry and Science at our official launch today is also a great indication of the desire to have a meaningful conversation about the technology and its potential. An industry working party will play an important part in helping to frame that conversation and suggest options for supporting policies.

“A project like the ‘Hume by Hydrogen’ would demonstrate the benefits of hydrogen transport very effectively – we would like our ix35 Fuel Cell to start a meaningful conversation about this technology for the benefit of future generations.”

However, Kim made it clear that Hyundai saw itself as an advocate for hydrogen technology rather than a key investor in a refuelling network.

The ix35 FCEV converts hydrogen to electricity, burns no fuel and emits nothing but water vapour from its exhaust. The range and refuelling time is similar to that of a normal petrol-powered car.

The next generation of Hyundai’s FCEV is targeted for introduction by 2018.

Added MacFarlane: “This is not just an important first step, it is also a clear undertaking to deliver technology that could place Australia in a leadership role for the introduction of zero emission vehicles within the Asia Pacific rim.

“Hyundai has brought its hydrogen-powered car to Australia, they have invested in a refuelling station, and they aim to be part of the conversation on a national rollout strategy.

“This level of commitment to a high-tech motoring future is the perfect melding of industry and science, delivering beneficial outcomes for the environment, jobs and a better future for all Australians.”

Manufactured in Korea, the ix35 Fuel Cell develops 100kW of power and 300Nm of torque and has an official maximum range of 594km. A Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell set a record in early July 2014 for the longest journey completed by a vehicle on a single tank of hydrogen, driving 700km through Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Private customers are leasing ix35 Fuel Cell Vehicles in Los Angeles as part of an advanced hydrogen scheme, and many more ix35 Fuel Cells are operational throughout Europe.

You can read motoring.com.au road test editor Matt Brogan’s first drive review here.

HMCA’s hydrogen refueller is a 350bar unit made by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc of Allentown, Pennsylvania. It is currently using hydrogen provided by gas partner Coregas Australia, but will soon create its own hydrogen on-site through the use of an electrolyser and harnessing solar power.

There are currently no plans for any other hydrogen refuellers to be built in Australia.