Honda’s not the only hydrogen-powered vehicle in town. Hyundai showed its next-generation Tucson Fuel Cell at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and also set forth some aggressive pricing that will no doubt get the attention of consumers and competitors alike. When the new hydrogen-powered crossover becomes available for lease in the spring, it will be available for $499 a month, a price which includes free hydrogen refueling and valet maintenance.
The three-year lease requires $2,999 down and includes maintenance services similar to those provided to Equus owners. When the Tucson Fuel Cell needs any service, the car will be picked up and a loaner provided at no extra cost. With this and the free-refueling offer, Hyundai is trying to reward early adopters of hydrogen-powered vehicles and get more Tucson Fuel Cells on the road.
Unlike battery-powered electrics, fuel cell vehicles make their own electricity. Zero-emissions travel without time-consuming recharging is the goal. Refueling with hydrogen takes about ten minutes, no longer than a gasoline fill-up, and the Tucson Fuel Cell has a 300-mile range on a full tank. The fuel cell stack has no moving parts, so durability is not a concern, and cold weather does not affect performance significantly. As with other hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the Tucson Fuel Cell only emits water vapor from its exhaust pipe.
The Tucson Fuel Cell’s electric motor produces 221 pound-feet of torque, and Hyundai says that performance is just like that of a gasoline-powered vehicle–only quieter. The new hydrogen-powered crossover goes on sale next spring.
