Hyundai's development of hydrogen vehicles will meet the possibility of automotive revolution

Hyundai's layout of hydrogen vehicles has multi-layered meanings. At a time when the development of lithium vehicles is in full swing, the company, with incomparable courage, determination and foresight, jumped out of the traditional role of follower, and invested a lot of resources in mass production as a pioneer, confirming the feasibility of hydrogen power. That is, hydrogen fuel cells not only use clean energy, but also suitable for various types of vehicles for different purposes; Whether it is passenger cars, buses, trucks, tractors and other heavy vehicles, or engineering vehicles, farming vehicles, etc., and perfect inherited the versatility, performance and convenience of a fuel engine. On the other hand, although lithium vehicles are popular, they are still struggling with endurance, charging time and the popularity of chargers. This situation establishes the trend that hydrogen vehicles are truly irreplaceable new energy vehicles. In terms of competition in the industry, it is visible that the breadth and progress of Hyundai's hydrogen vehicle layout has even surpassed Toyota. From the role of the follower of the past fuel vehicle era, Hyundai has been reborn and has become a forerunner.

Hyundai and Toyota were hesitant to promote lithium vehicles earlier, until strong market demand in 2021. There are many reasons for these two companies to be conservative with lithium vehicles. From the perspective of traditional car manufacturers, only hydrogen vehicles can master the core technology and value of automobiles like fuel vehicles. However, the invention and application of lithium batteries did not originate from the automotive industry, but from the electronics industry. Therefore, there are many companies that can design and produce lithium batteries, which lowers the barriers to entry and creates unprecedented opportunities for many start-ups to penetrate automobile industry.

Once the key components of the automobile are mastered by newcomers, it will affect the long-term competitiveness of traditional car manufacturers. Only hydrogen vehicles can be passed on with fuel vehicles and regain the soul of traditional car manufacturers. 

On the other hand, the lack of experience in the use of hydrogen fuel in vehicles has enabled car manufacturers to gain a pivotal position in the ecological chain of hydrogen energy. In the past, whether the car was fuel or the energy source for charging, it had almost nothing to do with the car factory. However, in the era of hydrogen vehicles, such as Hyundai Motors, which were developed early, fully grasped the characteristics, application methods and technologies of hydrogen fuel, which is what hydrogen fuel suppliers lack, so they often cooperate together in infrastructure such as hydrogen refueling stations. Another reason is that the marketing of hydrogen vehicles by the automakers is closely related to the location of the hydrogen refueling station, and it needs to cooperate with each other.

With the layout of Hyundai Motor, it can verify the development results of the car factory in passenger car hydrogen vehicles, which can be transferred to commercial vehicles such as buses, heavy trucks, even trains and aircrafts. It further highlights the technology of mastering hydrogen fuel cells. From the perspective of the horizontal axis, components can be shared across various types of vehicles; from the perspective of the vertical axis, it extends the existing fuel vehicle platform to hydrogen vehicles. Undoubtedly, from the example of Hyundai Motors, hydrogen vehicles will not only change the rules of the game in the automotive industry, but will also open up new horizons for car manufacturers to go beyond the automotive industry.


References
 

• 2022-02-02, 技術オフィス Tech-T,水素エネルギー社会（31）MIRAIとNEXO 2021年販売台数

• 2022-02-06, 技術オフィス Tech-T,水素エネルギー社会（32）日韓 水素ステーション比較

• 2018-03-27, Hyundai Press release, Hyundai Begins Sales of NEXO Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

• 2022-08-02, Hyundai Press release, Hyundai Motor’s XCIENT Fuel Cell Heavy-Duty Trucks to Hit German Roads
• 2021-09-23, Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, Lee Ha-yeon, Korea starts test on hydrogen trams for commercialization by 2023

• 2022-1-20, Electrive.com, Carrie Hampel, S.Korea to acquire 624 H2 fuel cell buses by 2025