Hyundai partners with DoE to sell fuel cell vehicles in America
Hyundai is hoping to lead the green car movement in America by teaming up with the American Department of Energy (DoE) to encourage sales of fuel cell vehicles. Last week Hyundai Motor's President, Jung Jin-Haeng, met with David Danielson, who leads the American Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, to discuss collaboration to promote the vehicles. They reportedly discussed how to expand demonstration projects for Hyundai’s Tucson hydrogen vehicles and the related infrastructure.

Hyundai Motor President Chung Jin-haeng, right, and U.S. Department of Energy officials exchange ideas about the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell during a consultation it held on the sidelines of President Park Geun-hye's state visit to Washington, D.C. Thursday. From left are: Cho Sung-hwan, president of Hyundai America Technical Center Inc.(HATCI); David Danielson, assistant secretary for energy efficiency & renewable energy; John Juriga, director at HATCI, and Chung.



By Park Jin-hai

Hyundai Motor and the U.S. Department of Energy sought cooperation in expanding the customer base for cars with fuel cells, the company said Friday.

Hyundai executives, led by company president Chung Jin-haeng, accompanying President Park Geun-hye's state visit, had a consultation session in Washington Thursday with U.S. officials including David Danielson, assistant secretary for energy efficiency & renewable energy, and Reuben Sarkar, deputy assistant secretary for transportation,

"We discussed measures to sell more fuel cell cars, including expanding infrastructure and the Fuel Cell Vehicle Validation Program the U.S. implements," a Hyundai spokesman said.

Hyundai has been participating in the program since 2004 and it is now involved with a joint project to verify the durability and performance of fuel cell cars as well.

After the consultation, U.S. officials test-drove the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell.

"On the foundation of the technologies built though the validation program, we could commercialize the Tucson Fuel Cell. Furthering the joint cooperation, we will lead commercializing the eco-friendly car," said Chung Jin-haeng, Hyundai Motor president.

Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cells received a top 10 engine award in North America last year. It was also identified as a top 10 engine this year by U.S. automobile media outlet, Ward's AutoWorld.

Monunting a 100-kW fuel cell and a drive motor the company developed using its own technology, the vehicle can deliver a maximum of 160 kilometers per hour. It takes 12.5 seconds to accelerate to 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill.

With a single charge, it can run 424 kilometers, equivalent to the distance between Seoul and Busan.

Since it launched the first mass-produced Tucson Fuel Cell in 2013, Hyundai has sold 389 of the vehicles around the world, including 145 in North America, 194 in Europe and 49 in Korea.