Hyundai Motor enhances commitment to a cleaner future by joining London Hydrogen Partnership

• Hyundai will contribute to the development of a hydrogen economy in London
• Signing with Deputy London Mayor takes place at Greater London Authority
• Hyundai is first manufacturer to begin assembly-line production of zero-emission fuel cell vehicles
• ix35 Fuel Cell to demonstrate real-world benefits of fuel cell technology

High Wycombe, April 22, 2013 – Hyundai Motor Company has strengthened its commitment to a cleaner, low-carbon future by joining the Mayor’s London Hydrogen Partnership (LHP). Hyundai and LHP representatives, including Deputy Mayor, Kit Malthouse, signed the agreement at the Greater London Authority headquarters in London on April 18.

The LHP has initiated over £50 million worth of hydrogen projects, attracting and rolling-out new hydrogen buses, taxis, scooters, refuelling stations, materials handling vehicles and fuel cell Combined Heat and Power units to London. Hyundai Motor Company will provide its expertise in fuel cell electric vehicles to LHP, helping to drive development of the infrastructure needed to realise a hydrogen economy.

Deputy Mayor and Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership, Kit Malthouse, said: ‘’Hyundai and members of the London Hydrogen Partnership will develop a plan for fuel cell vehicles, and will plan the hydrogen refuelling station rollout across London. Hyundai will provide invaluable insights and bring global experience to the Mayor’s innovative ‘smart’ low carbon, low emission transport activities.  This partnership will help to continue placing London’s economy at the forefront of science and innovation’’

Tony Whitehorn, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor UK, commented: “Hyundai is proud to be joining the London Hydrogen Partnership, helping to create a future for the capital that’s cleaner and more sustainable. Hydrogen delivers considerable environmental benefits and we are looking forward to working closely with the other partners of the LHP to drive forward its widespread introduction.

“As the first and currently only manufacturer in the world to series-produce a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle we believe we will play an invaluable role in demonstrating the benefits of this technology. The availability of the innovative Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell shows that hydrogen is a practical source of clean and sustainable energy. The fact that this pioneering vehicle is being leased to public and private fleets today will help LHP create investment and employment opportunities as hydrogen infrastructure is developed.”

Earlier this year Hyundai became the world’s first vehicle manufacturer to begin assembly-line production of the zero-emission, hydrogen-powered Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell. As well as being delivered to public and private fleets around the world, the car is being used by the European Commission-backed Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) to demonstrate the real-world benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology to members of the European Parliament, European Commission officials and other policymakers.

The leader in fuel cell development

Hyundai Motor Company has become a world-leader in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology since the introduction of the Santa Fe FCEV in 2000 and operates a dedicated fuel cell research division at its Eco Technology Research Institute in Korea.

Hyundai plans to build 1,000 examples of the ix35 Fuel Cell by 2015 for lease to public and private fleets, primarily in Europe, where the European Commission has established a road map for construction of a pan-European hydrogen fuelling station network. Leading automakers, including Hyundai, have declared support for more refuelling stations to prepare the market for mass production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell

Using Hyundai’s proprietary technology, the ix35 Fuel Cell’s fuel cell stack converts hydrogen into electricity, which turns the vehicle’s motor. The only emission generated is water.

The ix35 Fuel Cell can be refuelled with hydrogen in only a few minutes. It accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 12.5 seconds, has a top speed of 100mph and can travel 369 miles on a single tank.

The ix35 Fuel Cell is the result of 14 years and several hundred million euros of research by hundreds of engineers at Hyundai Eco Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, Korea. The car has logged more than two million miles of road tests in real-world conditions in Europe, Korea and the U.S.

Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell specifications 

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Notes to editors:

The London Hydrogen Partnership (LHP) is the mechanism that links London’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC) stakeholders with each other and with The Mayor of London and Greater London Authority (GLA).  It is a public-private partnership that accelerates the commercialisation of HFC technologies in London.  We have a wide range of industry members including SMEs and multinational companies boasting a wide range of expertise, from fuel cell and vehicle powertrain development and integration to fuel supply and component manufacture.  

The LHP has achieved major successes in recent years, and we have even bigger ambitions and plans for the future.  The LHP core activities include:

• Securing funding:  Over the last few years the LHP has initiated over £50 million worth of hydrogen projects; attracting and rolling-out new hydrogen buses, taxis, scooters, refuelling stations, materials handling vehicles and fuel cell Combined Heat and Power units to London.  

• Increasing profile and linking to wider Mayoral agendas and projects:  The LHP will continue to profit from its support from the Mayor’s Office to maximise the impact of major project launches in London. The LHP also enjoys the strong involvement of London’s functional bodies (Transport for London, Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade) who are committed to London’s hydrogen agenda and are already trialling a number of HFC technologies.

• Influencing UK and European policy:  The LHP maintains dialogue with local, regional and national government and is actively promoting the capital’s HFC agenda at the highest levels.  London is also a Board member of HyER (Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Electro mobility for European Regions), providing access to the valuable regional HFC network across Europe and ensuring that relevant European policy meets our members’ needs.

• Networking:  The LHP provides an environment where partners across the hydrogen and fuel cell supply chains meet and develop new commercial partnerships and projects. The LHP supports the development of these projects, for example, through feasibility and funding application support, as well as by engaging with London customers and authorities to make new projects as easy to implement and commercially sustainable.

 
The LHP continues to catalyse significant and innovative HFC projects in London.  We are also increasing the sector’s profile amongst Government, businesses and Londoners alike. For more information visit london.gov.uk/LHP

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About Hyundai Motor Company

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai Motor Group, with more than two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Hyundai Motor -- which has seven manufacturing bases outside of South Korea including Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, India, Russia, Turkey and the U.S. -- sold 4.4 million vehicles globally in 2012. Hyundai Motor, which employs over 80,000 worldwide, offers a full line-up of products including small to large passenger vehicles, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Further information about Hyundai Motor and its products is available at www.hyundai.com.

About Hyundai Motor Europe

The company designs, engineers and manufactures cars in Europe, specifically for European consumers.  In 2012, Hyundai achieved European sales of 444.000 units, taking a new-car market share of 3,5%.  Almost 95% of the vehicles Hyundai sells in the region are designed, engineered and tested in Europe.  And more than 70% are built at its two local factories (Czech Republic and Turkey), including New Generation i30, which is shortlisted for Europe’s 2013 Car of the Year award.  Hyundai sells cars in 28 European countries across 2.500 outlets.

Hyundai offers its unique, Europe-only, Five Year Triple Care warranty package with all new cars sold in the region, providing customers with a five-year warranty with no mileage limit, five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks.

More information about Hyundai Motor Europe and its products is available at www.hyundai.com/eu.

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