What's the news?
Both Audi and Hyundai will team up to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology. Hyundai already has production FCEVs (fuel cell electric vehicles), with the ix35.html and more recently it has introduced the Nexo. Audi has worked on fuel cell concepts for many years, first with the Audi A2H2 in 2004 and then the Q5 HFC in 2008. It began referring to its hydrogen-powered projects at h-tron when it revealed a version of the A7 Sportback in 2014. The new partnership will see the two carmakers cross-license patents and give each other access to non-competitive components that should speed up the development process.
One of the benefits of using hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles is that it provides long driving ranges without any vehicle emissions. Short refuelling times that aren't dissimilar to that of diesel or petrol is another bonus and gives FCEVs an advantage over current electric vehicles that can take longer to recharge.
Commenting on the announcement, Euisun Chung, Vice Chairman at Hyundai Motor Company said: "This agreement is another example of Hyundai's strong commitment to creating a more sustainable future whilst enhancing consumers' lives with hydrogen-powered vehicles, the fastest way to a truly zero-emission world."
"The fuel cell is the most systemic form of electric driving and thus a potent asset in our technology portfolio for the emission-free premium mobility of the future,' said Peter Mertens, Board member for Technical Development at Audi AG. He went on to say: "On our FCEV roadmap, we are joining forces with strong partners such as Hyundai. For the breakthrough of this sustainable technology, cooperation is the smart way to leading innovations with attractive cost structures.
Anything else?
Other companies that see a future in FCEVs include Toyota, which already produces a car that is sold primarily in Japan and California, where there already is an existing hydrogen fuel network. In the United States, more than 3,000 units of the Toyota Mirai have been sold, giving it an 80 per cent share of the fuel cell market.