Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) has landed the first 20 zero-emissions NEXO Hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in Australia.
They will be deployed by the ACT Government fleet from the third quarter of this year. The deployment represents a realisation of both Hyundai’s and the ACT Government’s long-term commitment to zero emissions transport in Australia.
The zero emission NEXO SUV is the first hydrogen-powered vehicle to meet Australian Design Rule (ADR) certification and the 20-strong NEXO fleet in the nation’s capital will represent the first use of hydrogen vehicles by any Government in Australia. The SUVs will be deployed in a variety of roles across several ACT Government departments
Canberra’s first 700-bar hydrogen refueling station will provide filling capability for the fleet and will open in the third quarter of this year, in conjunction with NEXO’s official launch in Australia. It will become the first publically-available hydrogen refuelling station in the country and the only permanent facility of its kind.
The new Canberra station will join the private hydrogen refuelling station at Hyundai Motor Company headquarters in Sydney. In addition, hydrogen refuellers in Brisbane and Melbourne are expected to be completed by the end of 2020, with stations also planned for NSW, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia CEO, Mr. Jun Heo, said that although hydrogen mobility is not yet a mainstream alternative in Australia, the company’s progressive vision will help the technology play a key role in a low-CO2 motoring future.
“For a long time, hydrogen has been touted as the fuel of the future. However, with the arrival of a fleet of NEXO FCEVs for the Australian Capital Territory Government, we’re pleased to say that it’s now the fuel of today,” Mr. Heo said.
“NEXO is the embodiment of our long-term commitment to introducing hydrogen-powered transport in Australia and around the world,” he said.
