现代汽车是仍在追求氢燃料电池汽车的几家汽车制造商之一，这种名为Nexo的新型氢动力是公司将该技术推向市场的下一步。与即将推出的途胜燃料电池车型相比，这种新型内燃机将更快，更可靠，更高效，更宽敞。目前还没有很多关于这款车的信息，但是现代汽车渴望分享这项新技术的细节。虽然Nexo仍然是像途胜这样的SUV车型，但它是基于一个定制的平台，这意味着它可以专门针对氢动力汽车的需求量身定制。这意味着，例如，更好的储存燃料的装备。三个氢气罐储存在车辆的后部地板下面，在后备箱中装有一个锂离子电池组。该车可容纳14.0磅的氢气，而旧的则为12.4英吋，这个储存系统的重量比Tucsons重36磅。燃料电池堆（将氢转化为电）也较小。而现代汽车将所有运动部件（驱动电机和冷却部件）置于引擎盖下方，这种新型燃料电池汽车还可以将更多的噪音消除在乘客舱内。燃料电池组本身产生95千瓦的功率，加上电池可提供40千瓦的功率，总计输出功率达到135千瓦。电力驱动马达也比以前更强大。现在它的额定功率为120千瓦，扭矩为291磅 - 英尺（约合395牛米），增加了20千瓦和70磅-英尺（约合95牛米）。因此，Nexo的加速时间比TucsonFCEV更快：0-96公里/小时为9.9秒，而之前为12.5秒。至于耐久性，现代汽车的工程师表示，该系统已经过相当于10年/10万英里（约合16万公里）的寿命测试。在燃料电池组已经退化至“寿命终止”电压之前，将需要大约15万英里（约合24万公里）的行驶里程。换句话说，只要许多车主对氢燃料汽车的期待，汽车研发就应该持续下去。按照EPA标准，Nexo一次加注氢燃料可以行驶350英里（约合563公里），相当于57MPGe。这足够从洛杉矶开到拉斯维加斯了而无需中途加油。这也高于途胜氢燃料电池车265英里（约合426公里）的续航里程。当然，用氢气加油仍然是一件棘手的事情。全国有几个加氢站，现代公司的官员说公司本身没有兴趣进入燃料供应业务。美国现代动力总监JohnJuriga说：“我们仍然认为内燃机是2025年以后的主导推进系统。“目前还不清楚现代将如何以及何时将Nexo商业化-途胜FCEV仅作为租赁提供，并且仅在南加州的某些地区提供。但是现代汽车对氢动力汽车的未来依然充满热情。
Hyundai Nexo Fuel-Cell Crossover Goes 350 Miles Per Tank
Hyundai is one of several automakers still aggressively pursuing hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, and this new hydrogen-powered crossover, called Nexo, is the company’s next step in bringing that tech to the public. Compared to the outgoing Tucson-based fuel-cell model, this new one will be quicker, more reliable, more efficient, and more spacious inside. There’s not a lot known about the vehicle itself yet, but Hyundai is eager to share details on the new technology.
Though still a crossover, like the Tucson, the Nexo is based on a bespoke platform, meaning that it can be specifically tailored to the needs of hydrogen-powered cars. This means, for instance, better packaging of the tough tanks that store the fuel. Three hydrogen tanks are stored below the rear floor of the vehicle, with a lithium-ion battery pack in the trunk. The car accommodates 14.0 pounds of hydrogen, versus 12.4 in the old one, in a storage system that weighs 36 pounds less than the Tucsons. The fuel cell stack (which converts hydrogen to electricity) is smaller, too. And by having all moving parts (the drive motor and cooling components) under the hood, Hyundai says the new fuel-cell car also keeps more noise out of the passenger compartment. The fuel-cell stack itself generates 95 kilowatts of power, which coupled to the battery’s ability to deliver 40 kW, means a total of 135 kW is available for the driver motor.
That electric drive motor is more powerful than before, too. It now is rated for 120 kW and 291 pound-feet of torque, gains of 20 kW and 70 lb-ft. As a result, acceleration times for the Nexo are quicker than the Tucson FCEV: just 9.9 seconds to 60 miles per hour versus 12.5 seconds before.
As to durability, Hyundai engineers say the system has been tested to the equivalent of a 10-year/100,000-mile life span; it would take about 150,000 miles of driving before the fuel-cell stack had degraded so far as to be at an “end of life” voltage. In other words, the vehicle should last essentially as long as many owners expect internal-combustion cars to.
The Nexo is expected to get an EPA rating of 350 miles per fill-up of hydrogen while returning the equivalent of 57 MPGe. That’s enough, to drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas without refueling. And it’s better than the Tucson FCEV’s rating of 265 miles per fill-up.
Of course, fueling up with hydrogen is still a tricky business. There are few hydrogen filling stations nationwide, and Hyundai officials say the company has no interest in getting into the fuel-supply business itself. As is the case with any fuel-cell car, it’s going to be a chicken-and-egg situation before hydrogen stations are as prevalent as gas stations – or even EV charging points.
“We still see internal combustion engines as being the dominant propulsion system out to 2025 and beyond,” says John Juriga, Hyundai of America Director of Powertrain.
It’s still not exactly clear how and when Hyundai will try to commercialize the Nexo – the Tucson FCEV was available as a lease only, and only in certain parts of southern California. But what is clear is that Hyundai remains enthusiastic about the future of hydrogen-powered vehicles.