Hyundai wants hydrogen infrastructure to be built




Hyundai Motor Co. has announced it has joined Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Honda Motor Co,, Ltd,, Renault, Toyota and Nissan to urge world's governments and especially energy companies to speed up development of easily accessible and affordable hydrogen infrastructure to ensure the successful introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) into the marketplace.

World's leading automakers announced that they addressed a Letter of Understanding to all major oil and energy companies and government organizations to call on these organizations to propel the development of hydrogen refuelling stations around the world.

"A hydrogen infrastructure network with sufficient density is required by 2015 and the network should be built-up from metropolitan areas via corridors into area-wide coverage." The companies "strongly support the idea of building-up a hydrogen infrastructure in Europe, with Germany as starting point and at the same time developing similar concepts for the market penetration of hydrogen infrastructure in other regions of the world.

Fuel cell electric vehicles are part of Hyundai's "Blue Drive" strategy, which will bring to market a wide range of eco-friendly products and technologies designed to reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

Hyundai's FCEV program has been gaining momentum with plans in place to start limited series production by 2012. Hyundai plans to expand its demo fleet of FCEV's to 200 units by 2010, including SUVs and city buses, then slowly ramp up production starting in 2012.

As a part of that ("Blue Drive") initiative, Hyundai will unveil four Blue Drive models at the forthcoming Frankfurt Auto Show, which starts tomorrow. [Source: Hyundai-Blog]