NEXO is more than just a large SUV, it is a laboratory on wheels, a living museum piece in the making. It is one of the very first hydrogen fuel cell cars to be visible to punters on Australian roads.

How Fuel Cells Work:

Hydrogen is stored in refilling stations at 700bar, some of which is locally produced. It can be 100% produced by green energy, and can store excess renewables that would otherwise be wasted.

So far, it is the same as a battery car, but the difference comes at recharge time.

While the very fastest popular EV takes a half hour or more, FCEV refills take around 3 minutes and in NEXO is good for 666km. A world record was set by our test car at 887.5km, as evidenced by the muck under the bonnet.

3 large composite tanks hold a total of 6.3kg of gas. The 3cm thick containers have been tested to a point that would have totally destroyed petrol tanks or LPG cylinders. But that’s not all, there are other safety measures in place, just in case. Each one weighs around 38kg.

The gas to energy conversion takes place in a Fuel Cell Stack of over 400 individual plates, about the size of a case of beer. The electricity is transferred to the 120kw motor, to drive the front wheels through a single speed transmission.

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ABOVE: Hyundai NEXO FCEV on its world record 887.5km trip

What Emissions result from Fuel Cell Use?

Clean water is the only by-product, however FCEVs also clean the air by filtering pollutants to provide clean air supply to the fuel cell. I’m not sure I’d want to drink it, but we are told you could if you wanted to.

Will FCEVs Replace Hybrid and BEV cars?

As hydrogen becomes cheaper and refilling stations become more ubiquitous, the most abundant element in the universe will become cheaper and easier to find.

FCEVs refill in minutes, compared to hours for an EV. While some EVs can take advantage of fast charging, continued use of fast charging adversely affects the longevity of the battery backs. Battery packs have a finite life, and are extremely heavy and expensive. Then, there is recycling or disposal to consider.

FCEVs on the other hand, have no maintenance. Tanks would be periodically inspected, and for safety, be replaced after a set period of time, at a tiny percentage of the cost of a battery pack of similar output and capacity.

It seems likely that for the time being, the mix of drive systems will see diesel transport replaced by hydrogen, and petrol transport as pure EV. No doubt the market will decide

What is NEXO?

NEXO is Hyundai’s large 5-seater SUV. The Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) is powered by electricity through a 120kw/395Nm motor.

Construction is a mix of high strength steel, and plastic. Front mud guards are 100% plastic, a first for Hyundai.

The cabin uses bio-plastics in the cabin. 34kg of the material is used in carpets, headliner, doors, seats, console, and other parts of the interior trim.

Not only does the use of this material result in a reduction of weight, but more importantly, 12kg reduction of CO2 during manufacture.

NEXO uses a slippery shape to aid aerodynamics, which includes flush door handles that only appear when required. The co-efficient of drag of 0.32 helps extend range.

How Quiet is NEXO?

There is no mechanical noise apart from the slight whine from the electric motor. Low speed reversing activates an audible signal to warn pedestrians.

At driving speeds, the cabin is blissfully silent. Road noise is minimal, as with most electric cars, and Hyundai has used local input to tailor NEXO to Australian roads.

How does NEXO Handle?

Nexo has a feel similar to other electric cars which use batteries to store power. Steering is extremely light, with drive modes making little difference to the ethereal feel of the passenger experience.

Ride feels distinctly wafty.

Passengers lope along in regal splendour akin to what you might expect in a limo. Audio comes thanks to a rather evil sounding “Krell” premium system. You’d get one just to say, “I have a Krell.”

In twisty bends, NEXO feels heavy-ish, but never feels like it will let go.

One joyous bend after another is dispatched with alacrity, and highways are a doddle. It is, after all, a large SUV.

What gadgets does NEXO have on board?

There is a fancy automated parking system which I suspect will see little use. The digital dash on the other hand, is a triumph. Putting a blinker on brings up a camera view along the side of the car, which ever way you’re turning.

Lane departure and lane centering are just a few of the driver aids. It has everything you get on any other current model Hyundai. Although there is high beam assist, the wipers are intermittent only.

NEXO got a top safety rating form ANCAP, so that should assuage concerns over the flammable fuel.

How Safe is Hydrogen?

The tanks are over engineered. Hydrogen is 14 times lighter than air, so tends to disperse fairly quickly, should there ever be a leak.

There have been few incidents, and naysayers will no doubt point to explosions that have killed several people. They will no doubt ignore difficulty in recycling batteries, the damage to the environment from leaking batteries, and the fire risk of batteries overheating, especially during an accident. Who could forget the fiery electric car crash on Top Gear?

Hydrogen has been used in commercial applications for years. The refuelling station at Hyundai’s Australian HQ was once used to re-gas forklifts. Fuel cells are just one more application.

Why Hydrogen?

There are advantages to both hydrogen and BEVS. Naysayers point to the rarity of hydrogen refuelling, ignoring the complete absence of public electric charging stations only a few years ago.

Several manufacturers have been developing fuel cells, citing environment at the main reason for sinking such enormous sums into a futuristic system.

You could make your own hydrogen at home, using solar. Water is needed to produce it, and clean drinking water is in short supply, right? And so it is, so one must consider the effects of the whole cycle on the environment.

Mass transit systems, freight, and shipping, could take advantage of local manufacture. Ships could make their own hydrogen from onboard plants. After all, they already produce fresh water for consumption at sea.

Conclusion:

All things considered, NEXO was fun, quiet, and comfortable.

It is very likely that public acceptance will be the key to a hydrogen future. Arguments over dinner tables will rage, but one thing is sure, fuel cells can be used anywhere electricity is required, without the need of batteries.

For the time being, the size of the tanks will limit the size of vehicles to those on the larger size, but, this is just the beginning. Elon Musk mocks FCEVs, but he would wouldn’t he. His business is batteries.

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