The 2019 Hyundai Nexo, powered by hydrogen, is set to take the place of the Tucson Fuel Cell. Similar to its predecessor, the Nexo will be offered exclusively at selected dealers in California. Hyundai announced that sales of the Nexo in California will commence by the end of 2018.
Initially, the Nexo will be available at two dealerships in Southern California: Keyes Hyundai in Van Nuys and Tustin Hyundai in Tustin. Additionally, Capitol Hyundai, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, is expected to start selling the hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle in 2019.
The market for hydrogen vehicles remains constrained due to a shortage of fueling stations. Although the network of stations is slowly expanding beyond California, automakers like Hyundai are proceeding cautiously to prevent customers from getting stranded without access to refueling. Other hydrogen vehicles on the market, such as the Toyota Mirai and Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, are also restricted to California sales.
Hyundai boasts that the Nexo can achieve an impressive range of 380 miles in its efficiency-oriented Blue trim, surpassing the Tucson Fuel Cell’s previous range of 265 miles and outperforming the EPA-rated ranges of 366 miles for the Clarity Fuel Cell and 312 miles for the Mirai. However, it’s important to note that the Nexo’s Limited trim offers a slightly lower range of 354 miles. The vehicle is equipped with 161 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds, according to Hyundai.
Hyundai is adopting a comprehensive strategy to lower emissions. Alongside the launch of the Nexo, the South Korean company plans to introduce hydrogen fuel-cell trucks in Switzerland. The automaker’s lineup also includes hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric models. By 2025, Hyundai aims to unveil 38 new or revamped green vehicles, which will likely include options from its Kia and Genesis brands.
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