Hyundai’s objective for the near future is to build hydrogen-fueled automobiles, which is both technologically and environmentally sustainable. In reality, as part of a pilot study, 143 automobiles of this sort have been on the road in the United States, Europe, and Japan since 2013.
It’s the Tucson Fuel Cell model, which, according to the business, has the following features: it doesn’t emit polluting emissions, it can drive up to 520 kilometers before recharging, and it can be used as a power plant if the owner has an emergency or goes camping.
In Europe, these automobiles may cost up to 145 thousand euros (about $ 200 thousand) in cash. Meanwhile, in the United States, they are advertised as leasing; in other words, the interested person may use it as a loan for two years and then pay a difference of roughly $50,000 if they want to buy it after that time.
However, the Tucson Fuel Cell will not be available in Latin America, including Ecuador.
This is due to the high cost of installing hydrogen stations for the cars to fill up. Each one will set you back around $4 million. There are now 220 of these cars on the road in the nations where they operate.
One of the project’s engineers, Robert Andrew, explains that hydrogen manufacturing is complicated. There are various sources: oil (a derivative of gasoline), water (two hydrogen molecules are extracted from one oxygen molecule by electrolysis), and natural gas.
The technician, on the other hand, feels that the governments of the region should be interested in this fuel because it is more environmentally beneficial.
Hyundai’s Latin American offering is a hybrid technology, which consists of cars that are fueled by both gasoline and electricity until hydrogen becomes more widely used.
The Sonata Hybrid model has been offered in Ecuador since May of last year. It was the first country in Latin America to receive this sort of vehicle.
“Hybrid vehicles are in high demand due to their fuel efficiency and environmental benefits. The Hybrid Sonata is especially popular because of its high-quality interior and exterior equipment, as well as its low costs,” says José Luis Coba, the country’s marketing manager.
Depending on the equipment, the price ranges from $31,000 to $35,000. In the local market, there are two variants.
Both technologies were created in the Hyundai Research and Development Center (R&D Center), a 50-kilometer-long facility around the size of 30 soccer fields located 50 kilometers from Seoul, South Korea’s capital.
“A car has worth for how it complements our lives as persons, not only as a mode of transportation or a manifestation of cutting-edge technology.” Cars provide new experiences, improve life enthusiasm, and provide happiness. “The Center was established to focus on people,” explains Raphael Choi, Hyundai’s South Korean Public Relations Executive.
Around ten thousand engineers and designers work there, primarily; in addition, testing are conducted on new models that will be released, including speed, wind resistance, dust resistance, and impact resistance. (I)
The Hyundai group made $214 billion in profit in 2013, with the vehicle segment accounting for 53% of the total.
8.4% of the population According to numbers provided by Hyundai’s directors, this is the portion of the Ecuadorian market that the business controls.
