Hyundai i-Blue Fuel-Cell Vehicle Gets Serious About Hydrogen

Korean automaker Hyundai is no stranger to zero emission fuel cell technology. Hyundai initially demonstrated fuel cell capability to the world by packaging FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) technology in the Santa Fe SUV back in 2000. Five years of development led to a second generation FCEV based on the Tucson platform in 2006, with power increased to 80 kW and lithium-polymer batteries added. This automaker’s fuel cell expertise has also been demonstrated at a mass transit level with fuel cell powered buses.
While utilizing the Santa Fe and Tucson did work well to forward the company’s fuel cell development program, packaging fuel cell technology into existing vehicle platforms has limitations that require engineers to accept compromises that can get in the way of optimum powertrain design. Recently, Hyundai moved beyond this with its introduction of an all-new, purpose-built FCEV concept that’s nothing less than stunning. The new Hyundai i-Blue was designed from the start to integrate the latest third generation fuel cell technology. According to Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, Hyundai’s president of Research and Development, the i-Blue makes a tremendous leap forward for the automaker’s R&D program, with the company’s engineering team successfully designing a more compact fuel cell vehicle while retaining the safety, comfort, convenience, and driving range of a traditional internal combustion vehicle.
The i-Blue is a small “D” segment car, which Hyundai describes as a 2+2 crossover platform. Much more compact than the existing FCEV SUVs, i-Blue required significant engineering advancements. Downsizing requirements are addressed by the third generation fuel cell technology that enables placing the new and compact 100 kW fuel cell stack beneath the floor of the cabin, rather than in the engine compartment. Placement of the fuel cell and battery mass low and in the middle of the vehicle delivers an optimum 50-50 weight distribution and a low center of gravity for optimum handling dynamics. Link......