Report: Hyundai to introduce new fuel-cell vehicle in 2018 at half the price of Tucson Fuel Cell
26 August 2016
The Korea Herald reported that Hyundai Motor plans to unveil a new fuel-cell electric vehicle with a price tag of 60 million won (~US$53,900)—around half the price of the current Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell. With Korean government subsidies of 27.5 million won (~US$24,700), the purchase price for customers could be lowered to about 33.5 million won (~US$30,100). At the same time, the driving range will increase from the current 415 kilometers (258 miles) to 600 kilometers (373 miles).
Hyundai unveiled the plan during the launch event of a government-industry alliance targeting 10,000 fuel-cell vehicles on the road by 2020.
The report said that the Korean government plans to increase tax benefits to customers with aims to increase the number of fuel-cell vehicles to 10,000 in Korea by 2020, while exporting 14,000 vehicles outside the nation.
it's so stupid for Korea to subsidy fuel cells... they do have good nuclear industry, great battery industry, electric cars charging off-peak nuclaer power is perfect combination.
Posted by: As Aha | 26 August 2016 at 08:05 AM
All weather FCEVs are complementary to short range BEVs and required for heavy machinery, boats/ships, long haul heavy truck, buses and locomotives. They are required to replace ICEVs.
We should give a hand to Ballard, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai (and others) for all the R & D they have done and will do in the near future to improve FCs and their applications.
Governments should get involved and help to build appropriate H2 infrastructures (stations) like is being done in Germany, Norway, Japan, So-Korea, UK and California etc.
Posted by: HarveyD | 26 August 2016 at 11:56 AM
With 50% more range at half the price, the 2018 Tuscon FCEV will be one of the top seller.
Toyota and Honda will have to move faster to catch up?
Posted by: HarveyD | 26 August 2016 at 11:59 AM
Keep posting article like this and i might buy a little fuelcell car in 6 years if they sell the kilo of hydrogen at 2-3$ a gallon.
Posted by: gorr | 26 August 2016 at 05:19 PM
@gor:
Your wish may very well become reality by 2022/2025.
Even with major cost reductions, small FCEVs may cost more than your current ICEV but H2 could very cost about $1.25/L to $1.50/L or about 50% of current gasoline due to 2X higher efficiency, if produced with surplus very low cost Hydro.
Posted by: HarveyD | 27 August 2016 at 07:58 AM
Until a fueling infrastructure is built out, a $54,000 FCV will find very few takers, especially if many share Harvey's sensible requirements: a station within a few miles of their home, and fuel prices more in line with gasoline. Since that will take a few decades at best, why Hyundai would create an inevitable flop is a real puzzler.
Chevrolet is selling the Volt for $32k MSRP and $22,000 to the customer (as low as $17k if you live in a generous air pollution control district and work for an employer with incentives).
You've got to really like Hydrogen and SUVs to pay a $22,000 premium for your daily driver.
$54k is prime competition for plug-in SUVs from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, $6k more than BYD Tang and $10k more than Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Hope it has some secret sauce other than $14.50 kg fuel which requires an app to find.
Posted by: electric-car-insider.com | 27 August 2016 at 08:22 AM
An interim solution may be a PHEV with an FC as range extender. Local driving would be mostly on batteries (recharged every night) and H2FC used for long trips and on colder days.
Eventually, Cities, States, Provinces, Countries, FCEVs manufacturers, H2 making/transportation compagnies will join forces to establish early H2 station networks.
Of course, California, Germany, Norway, Japan, UK, So-Korea (and a few others) will take the lead position.
Posted by: HarveyD | 29 August 2016 at 08:47 AM
Does someone really need to point out that a range extender is only useful if you can actually get fuel in those distant points you might be traveling to?
If wishes were horses...
Posted by: electric-car-insider.com | 29 August 2016 at 11:16 AM
Nissan style bio fuel (ethanol) FCs mays solve that problem by 2020 or so?
Posted by: HarveyD | 01 September 2016 at 10:11 AM