KOREA’S largest car maker, Hyundai Motor Company, has announced key investments into three hydrogen companies, aiming to strengthen its leadership position in the global hydrogen fuel cell ecosystem.
In an attempt to reduce the cost of producing fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), Hyundai has formed partnerships with Impact Coatings, H2Pro and GRZ Technologies, with the strategic move coming at a time of heightened demand for fuel cell technology.
The collaboration will enable Hyundai to expand its hydrogen infrastructure and enhance FCEV manufacturing, and improve safety and affordability of hydrogen infrastructure, which should make FCEVs more accessible to customers.
It’s a move the Korean car maker hopes will accelerate the widespread adoption of hydrogen technology, by making FCEVs more accessible for customers.
Impact Coatings is a leading supplier of Physical Vapor Deposition coating solutions for fuel cells, offering materials, machines, and services. The Swedish company’s ceramic coatings are cost efficient substitutes for precious metals used in fuel cell production.
Under the new joint development agreement, Hyundai and Impact Coatings will jointly research and develop a new generation of materials, processes and equipment for a variety of applications, including fuel cells and hydrogen production.
H2Pro is an Israeli startup that developed the E-TAC (electrochemical, thermally active chemical) water splitting technology, which is efficient, affordable, and safe, and will allow Hyundai to lower the cost of hydrogen production.
This will in-turn reduce the price of hydrogen for customers. This marks Hyundai’s second investment into the startup since Hyundai CRADLE Tel Aviv first announced the partnership in November 2018.
GRZ Technologies is a company based in Switzerland, specialising in energy storage in hydrogen form. Its technology stores hydrogen more safely at lower pressure with higher density, while its proprietary compression technology is also more affordable.
Hyundai’s agreement with GRZ will accelerate the company’s efforts to commercialise fuel cell infrastructure for greater accessibility to customers.
Hyundai Motor is a world leader in the development of fuel cell technology. It became the world’s first automaker to commercialise fuel-cell electric vehicles with the introduction of ix35 Fuel Cell (also known as Tucson Fuel Cell) in 2013.
Hyundai’s second generation FCEV, the NEXO, has a range of 666km (WLTP) and emits clean water vapour and purifies the air while driving.
