Hyundai’s waiting for hydrogen infrastructure to push sales in the US

Hyundai Motor America just released the 2016 Tucson Fuel Cell. The world first mass-produced car of its kindf adds convenient HomeLink connectivity to the mirror, allowing owners to open and close garage doors, security gates and even control home lighting systems via a button on the rearview mirror, which now includes a digital compass. In addition, the Tucson adds two new exterior color options to Winter White: Hydro Blue and Chromium Silver.

But, according to the South Korean automaker’s top manager in the United States, Dave Zuchowski, the lack of an appropriate refueling network for the hydrogen powered Tucson sport utility vehicle variant has limited the appeal of the model. Hyundai so far has delivered less than 100 units of the Tucson FCV since it was brought in the US last summer.

There are only half-dozen refilling stations in the Southern California area where the vehicle is sold, and  the customers need to be close enough to be able to fill up the tank. However, the situation is going to reverse over the next few years as the state has awarded funds to the firms wanting to establish new hydrogen refueling stations.The State of California has pledged millions of dollars to expand the hydrogen infrastructure, as it plans to have at least 100 refill stations in the US.

PS: Would you like to follow the latest hydrogen news on a more regular basis? Then you should subscribe to our newsletters: 
– “Your hydrogen news live” (to receive all our articles as soon as they are published) and
– “Your weekly newsletter” (sent every Monday morning).