Hyundai has revealed that the NEXO has cleaned more than 900kg (918.75kg) of air on London roads during Clean Driving™ Month. That is the same amount of air that 1 adult breathes in 60 days or 1,455 adults breathe in one hour. The brand-new next generation hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle took to the streets of London across 31 days culminating in a weekend where the public had the opportunity to get behind the wheel.
With a total of 350 miles driven overall, the car – which actually cleans the air as it drives – was driven along London’s dirtiest driving route throughout the month. The route was mapped in partnership with University College London who reviewed open source data from a King’s College London pollution study to look at Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels and Particulate Matter (PM) levels with particularly congested roads including Marylebone Road and Park Lane.
The NEXO, which is available next year and emits nothing but water, has an advanced air purification system which filters 99.9% of very fine dust (PM2.5) which is then retained in the NEXO and not expelled back into the air.
NEXO’s air filtration system uses three stages of filtering. Firstly, outside air passes through an advanced air filter where 97% of ultrafine particulates alongside harmful gases such as Sulphur dioxide and Nitrous dioxide are filtered and retained. Remaining particulates are then absorbed on the surface of the humidifier in stage two and finally the air reaches the Gas Diffusion Layer within the fuel cell stack. This layer is made of carbon fibre paper with a microspore structure allowing for further filtration – the resulting air released has over 99.9% of ultra-fine particles and toxic gases filtered out.
Sylvie Childs, Hyundai’s Senior Product Manager for NEXO says: “We are all concerned about air quality and what affects it. At Hyundai, we are committed to improving the efficiency and environmental performance of all our vehicles and have been investing billions in bringing a full range of low and zero emission vehicles to the marketplace. We believe that the availability of alternatives, like the NEXO fuel cell electric vehicle, will bring the UK closer to its zero emissions future.”
The NEXO is Hyundai’s technological flagship, a stylish SUV packed full of the latest innovation in Advanced Drivers Assistance Systems and a driving range of up to 414 miles (WLTP). The hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle emits nothing but water and can be refuelled in less than 5 minutes – similar to the time it takes to refuel a conventional diesel or petrol car.
As well as being a zero emissions vehicle, NEXO also features an adjustable regenerative braking system that recuperates additional energy when possible and significantly reduces other pollutants like brake dust.
From 2019, the new NEXO will be available to consumers and via selected lease companies. Prices will be announced shortly.
For more information visit: https://www.hyundai.co.uk/new-cars/nexo
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Editors’ notes – Hydrogen refuelling infrastructure
There are currently 11 publically accessible Hydrogen Refuelling Stations in the UK, located in 4 keys areas of the UK with a view to develop clusters in the first instance, then to link up the clusters over the next 10 years or so.
The aim is to have 65 stations in the UK by 2030. The clusters are London (Hendon, Rainham, Teddington, Hatton Cross (Heathrow), Cobham Services, Beaconsfield Services and soon Gatwick), Aberdeen, Sheffield, Baglan and two stations in Swindon. Two further sites will be installed within the M25 by March 2019, moreover Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Bristol, Oxford councils also want to develop their low emissions zones.
In terms of hydrogen production, while some hydrogen is currently produced from hydrocarbons, there is increasing interest in hydrogen as an energy storage medium as renewable capacity increases.
Hyundai NEXO press pack here: https://www.hyundai.news/uk/press-kits/0/NEXO%20fuel%20cell/
About Hyundai Motor
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond. The company leads the Hyundai Motor Group, an innovative business structure capable of circulating resources from molten iron to finished cars. Hyundai Motor has eight manufacturing bases and seven design & technical centres worldwide and in 2016 sold 4.86 million vehicles globally. With more than 110,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with localized models and strives to strengthen its leadership in clean technology, starting with the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered vehicle, ix35 Fuel Cell and IONIQ, the world’s first model with three electrified powertrains in a single body type.
More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at: http://worldwide.hyundai.com or http://www.hyundaiglobalnews.com.
About Hyundai Motor UK
Hyundai has sold vehicles in the UK since 1982. In 2005, Hyundai opened its own UK subsidiary, Hyundai Motor UK Ltd, based in High Wycombe. Since 2008, the company has risen from 21st to one of the top 10 car manufacturers in the UK and last year sold a record 92,510 vehicles. Hyundai Motor UK employs more than 3,000 people through its UK operations and dealer network. Hyundai offers a full range of vehicles from the award-winning New Generation i10 city car through to the capable Santa Fe SUV and iLoad LCV. All passenger cars come with Hyundai’s industry-leading 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty package. Further information about Hyundai and its products is available at www.hyundai.co.uk.
SOURCE: Hyundai
