Hyundai Unveils Nexo Fuel Cell Vehicle

Hyundai Motor Co. says its all-new Nexo fuel cell vehicle is larger, lighter, more powerful and more efficient than its current Tucson fuel cell model.

The carmaker took the wraps off the new crossover today at the CES electronics show in Las Vegas. Sales of the vehicle will launch later this year in select markets, including the U.S.

Riding on a dedicated platform, the 184-inch Nexo is 10-inches longer than the Tucson and has a six-inch longer wheelbase. The new model also is two inches wider but one inch lower.

Power comes from a 95-kW fuel cell stack and a 40-kW battery pack compared with a 100-kW stack and 24-kW battery in the Tucson. The Nexo’s electric motor generates 160 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque, up 20% and 32%, respectively.

Hyundai says the Nexo has a 370-mile driving range and can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds. That’s more than 100 miles farther and three seconds quicker than the Tucson.

The Nexo’s fuel cell stack also is smaller and lighter than the one used in the Tucson. The purpose-built platform allows for improved packaging of the fuel cell stack and battery, which is relocated to the trunk, to increase cabin space.

Hyundai says improvements also have been made to the hydrogen tank to reduce weight and increase storage capacity. The tank can be refueled within five minutes.

The vehicle can be restarted after being subject to overnight temperatures as low as -20° F. This includes a cold-start capability of less than 30 seconds, which Hyundai claims is an industry best for a fuel cell vehicle.

The new model also is equipped with a host of Hyundai’s latest driver-assist technologies. An all-new lane-following system, which is being launched on the Nexo, automatically adjusts speed and centers the vehicle in its lane at speeds as high as 90 mph. A remote parking system allows the Nexo to autonomously park or retrieve itself with or without a driver on board.