When we talk about greener automobile technology, electric vehicles are our most natural choice. But the Korean carmaker Hyundai has started planning a step further as the brand is gearing up to start testing its fuel-cell-powered electric vehicle (FCEV), the Nexo in our country. Revealed by a leaked RTO document, the government has approved the registration of the Hyundai Nexo SUV for testing purposes.
Earlier in December 2019, Hyundai had shown its interest in bringing fuel cell electric vehicles to India. Later the brand had also showcased the Nexo FCEV at the 2020 Auto Expo. Now, by bringing the Nexo FCEV for testing purposes, Hyundai will start a feasibility study to analyze its possibilities for our market.
The Hyundai Nexo is already available for sale in selected markets like California, and the USA. It is powered by a Permanent Magnet Synchronous type electric motor (163PS/395Nm) that draws its charge from a hydrogen fuel cell that generates electricity by mixing oxygen with compressed hydrogen to create a flow of electrons. The only emission that comes out of the Nexo is H2O (water). They are not only more environmentally friendly than EVs but also offer better convenience as the Hydrogen fuel cells just take five minutes to fill, as opposed to electric vehicles which take at least an hour for a decent range and can drive more than 600Km before needing to be filled up again. The Hyundai Nexo has a 156.6-liter hydrogen tank. It can sprint from 0-100kmph in 9.2 seconds.
In terms of features, the global-spec Hyundai Nexo comes equipped with a dual-tone cabin, a twin-screen set up like a modern Mercedes Benz incorporating a 7-inch fully digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch floating infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, KRELL premium sound system, automatic climate control, front ventilated/heated seats, shift-by-wire transmission, paddle shifters, a panoramic sunroof, etc.
It also gets a plethora of active & passive safety features like forward collision assist, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assists (RCCA), blind-spot collision avoidance assistant (BCA), and many more.
If Hyundai launches the Nexo in India, it could be the first fuel cell vehicle in the country. Hyundai could bring it via CBU route and it is likely to be available in selected cities only.
