TOKYO, Sept. 15, 2021—Auto journalists have been bewildered about this announcement: ‘Hydrogen Vision 2040’ that aims to power all commercial vehicles with hydrogen fuel cell and/or electric battery systems by 2028 and further widen the technology’s applications to many other industries by 2040.
Not from Toyota Motor Corp., which has been boasting itself as the world’s leading fuel cell vehicle manufacturer with the commercial sale of its ‘Mirai’ passenger car a few years ago, the announcement came from Hyundai Motor Group.
The Korean automaker’s Sept. 7 worldwide announcement, which was hardly reported by the Japanese media, told its Hydrogen Wave on-line forum that it would ‘popularize hydrogen by 2040 through the introduction of new technologies and mobility solutons in transport and other industrial sectors.’
It pledged the electrification of ‘all new commercial vehicle models – which would be ben powered by FC or battery powertrains – by 2028.
Other points of the announcement were:
· Hydrogen Wave represents the Group’s plans for a new ‘wave’ of hydrogen-based products and technologies toward a hydrogen society
· The Group to introduce next- generation fuel cell system – 100kW and 200kW variations – in 2023 with costs being lowered by more than 50%, total package volume reduced by 30% and power output doubled
· The Group to become the first automaker to apply fuel cell systems to all commercial vehicle models by 2028
· The Group to achieve a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) price point comparable to a battery electric vehicle (BEV) by 2030
· The Group to apply fuel cell systems to all types of mobility and furthering the technology to all other aspects of society including homes, buildings and powerplants as energy solutions
· Future product concepts featuring fuel cell technologies also revealed, including Trailer Drone, high-performance sports car, and fuel cell equipped vehicles for emergency relief and rescue missions
· Chairman of the Group, Euisun Chung, outlines the journey ahead: “By developing advanced technologies and innovative systems – as well as encouraging close collaboration between public and · private sectors across the globe – it is possible to make this sustainable vision a reality for all.”
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