Hyundai to launch fuel-cell, electric vehicles for carbon neutrality

Hyundai Motor Company announced its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2045 at IAA Mobility 2021. 

In line with that commitment, the Korean carmaker will focus on three pillars: clean mobility, next-generation platforms, and green energy. 

At the German motor show, Hyundai is also showcasing concepts for an all-electric robotaxi, and artistic displays on hydrogen power. 

As part of the clean mobility pillar, by 2030, Hyundai aims for 30 percent of global vehicles sales with zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs). By region, Hyundai plans to offer only ZEVs in Europe in 2035. 

By 2040, the company expects that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel  cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) will account for 80 percent of its total fleet sales. At the same, time, Hyundai will phase out all vehicles using fossil fuels in major markets, also to support clean mobility.

Among those ZEVs is the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, shown as the sleek Prophecy EV concept on display at IAA 2021.  To grow its portfolio of FCEVs aside from the Xcient truck, Hyundai will launch the Nexo SUV and hydrogen MPV model in 2023. Hyundai also plans to launch a large SUV powered by fuel cell after 2025.  

In keeping with the next-generation platforms pillar, the company will develop autonomous vehicles such as the Ioniq 5 Robotaxi. Motional, the tech company Hyundai has worked with for driverless cars, will begin transporting public passengers in the robotaxi when it launches its driverless service in 2023.

The green energy pillar will consist of the use of renewable energy in production, and the activation of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems and second life battery energy storage systems (SLBESS).

The company aims for over 90 percent use of renewable energy in its global operations by 2040. V2G allows energy to be pushed back to the power grid from the battery of an EV. Meanwhile, SLBESS is the recycling of old EV batteries. 

Photos from Hyundai 

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