Hyundai featured its proprietary fuel cell technology at the Los Angeles Auto Show today, highlighting its Tucson Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) as part of the company’s "Hyundai Blue Drive" sustainability effort.

The Tucson FCEV recently celebrated the successful completion of a 13–day, cross–country road trip which served as the first significant U.S. test for the Hyundai–developed fuel cell stack. The nearly 4,300 mile event, called the Hydrogen Road Tour 2008, featured nine auto manufacturers and was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Fuel Cell Partnership, National Hydrogen Association and U.S. Department of Transportation.

A caravan of hydrogen–powered fuel cell vehicles departed on August 11 from Portland, Maine. The road trip consisted of 34 tour stops in 31 different cities across the country reaching communities such as New York City, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix, before rolling to the finish–line event in Los Angeles´ Exposition Park on August 25.

The Tucson FCEV exceeded expectations throughout the event, demonstrating again that zero–emission vehicles can operate in real–world driving conditions. The vehicle recorded exceptional range of 185 miles per refueling, and achieved top speeds of 95 mph. Since the successful cross–country trip, the Tucson FCEV with Hyundai’s fuel cell technology has joined a fleet of 32 Hyundai and Kia FCEVs taking part in testing programs throughout the country.

Hyundai is currently operating fleets at Hyundai America Technical Center in Chino, Calif.; California Air Resources Board in Sacramento, Calif.; AC Transit in Oakland, Calif.; Southern California Edison in Rosemead, Calif.; and the U.S. Army TACOM facility in Warren, Mich.

Hyundai is a member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership, a collaboration of organizations including auto manufacturers, energy providers, fuel cell technology companies and government agencies working together to promote the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. Hyundai has been a member of the Partnership since 2000, and began testing its first–ever U.S. fuel cell vehicle at Partnership headquarters in Sacramento, Calif. in 2001.

Courtesy: Hyundai Motor

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Posted by Naresh Koshti on 22 November, 2008 8:36:31 AM IST #