Hyundai has already upped the ante at the Auto Expo 2020.
The Hyundai Nexo is touted to become India’s first FCEV ( Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle). The Nexo is already going under a feasibility test for the Indian market. The car was displayed at the Auto Expo 2020.
Hyundai Nexo | What to Expect?
The Hyundai Nexo will be a crossover SUV powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The car’s front wheels are powered by an electric motor that churns out 161 bhp and a peak torque of 395 Nm.
Hyundai claims that the car can complete the 0 to 100 sprint in 9.2 seconds when full flat out. The refuelling time for the Hyundai Nexo is just 5 minutes and the claimed range is more than 600 kilometres.
On the technological front, the Hyundai Nexo is rather superior. The car comes with autonomous driving features such as Lane Follow Assist (LFA), Highway Driving Assist (HDA) and a remote parking system which enables the car to park itself when required.
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How Do FCEVs Work?
The FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) work through electricity. The difference being that rather than consuming electricity directly from the battery there are hydrogen fuel cells powering the vehicle.
Fuel cells are an amalgamation of an internal-combustion engine and battery power. Like an internal-combustion engine, they make power by using fuel from a tank. Although the fuel is pressurized hydrogen gas rather than petrol or diesel.
Chemical reactions within each fuel cell between hydrogen and oxygen present in the atmosphere generate power that is used to power the Hyundai Nexo’s electric motor. The by-product of this chemical reaction is water, which makes it an emission-free and environment-friendly vehicle.
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What’s Next?
The Hyundai Nexo comes with a hydrogen fuel cell-powered motor. While the Auto expo 2020 is all about EVs, the future of FCEVs seems rather bleak. The only hydrogen fuel centre in the country is in Delhi.
With much to be developed in this car segment and no major R&D investment yet, the technology might not be mass-produced in the coming years.
