Unlike electric cars, hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are not likely to become mainstream for at least for another 15-20 years, considering the lack of fueling stations and the high cost of the vehicles, themselves.
However, there are a couple of automakers that are committed to bringing mass-market hydrogen-powered vehicles to the road, and Hyundai is at the forefront of those efforts. The South Korean manufacturer is one of the few manufacturers that offer a vehicle with fuel-cell technology, and it intends to continue investing in hydrogen-fueled vehicles. Now, in a bid to popularize fuel cell-powered vehicles, Hyundai is set to launch a car-sharing program that will use cars equipped with this technology.
Following in the Footsteps of Electric Vehicles
In addition to government incentives and investment in infrastructure, one other thing that has helped popularize electric cars have been car-sharing programs in many cities around the globe. It has proven to be a great way for making electric cars more accessible for those who can not afford to buy one, and it presents a good alternative to owning an electric vehicle for those who consider it to be inconvenient because of the lack of publicly accessible charging stations or due to high ownership costs.
That is why Hyundai has decided to join a car-sharing program that will exclusively offer hydrogen vehicles. The South Korean car maker has announced that the world’s first car-sharing service using fuel-cell vehicles will launch this summer in Munich, Germany, as part of the company’s efforts for a more widespread adoption of hydrogen-fueled cars in Europe.
The program is called BeeZero, and it will be operated by the Linde Group, offering 50 Hyundai ix35 fuel cell vehicles. The ix35 is world’s first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle, and it’s available for lease in selected markets.
“The new BeeZero car sharing offer is pioneering sustainable mobility,” says Thomas A. Schmid, Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor Europe. “Featuring the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell, BeeZero will not only be the first car sharing service using hydrogen-powered zero-emission cars, but will also offer comfortable and reliable transportation for the public’s everyday needs.”
Long Range and Zero Emissions
The Hyundai ix35, like all fuel-cell vehicles, has a couple of key advantages over electric cars. For starters, it has a much longer range, rated at 372 miles on a single tank, basically eliminating potential range anxiety issues associated with plug-in vehicles. On top of that, it has drastically shorter refueling times than battery-electric cars, since it can be refueled in less than 5 minutes.
Finally, fuel-cell cars only emit water as a byproduct, which means that they are not harmful for the environment and can help reduce air pollution.
The BeeZero program will allow users to reserve a car through a mobile application, and they will be able to pick a car up at one of the four designated areas in Munich, in addition to the city center.