Hyundai in first hydrogen fuel cell trial in Scotland
25th June 2012
Hyundai is to play a major part in the first hydrogen fuel cell trial to be held in Scotland. This is to be carried out by Aberdeen’s car club and this will be the first trial of its kind in the UK. The Commonwheels car club is a recently established group and it will be taking two of the brand’s ix35 FCEV models, which are left-hand drive, to determine their effectiveness. This is to be carried out in anticipation of an event for renewable energies which is due to be held in Aberdeen.
Members of the group are to be given the chance to drive these hydrogen SUV vehicles before an event known as the All Energy Conference. This is due to be held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, and these Hyundai vehicles will also be on display there. They can be seen on the SHFCA (Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association) stand.
It is expected that it will be something of a challenge to run a car fuelled by hydrogen in Aberdeen, but a mobile refuelling station will be provided by ITM Power, a firm known for providing clean energy.
The Chief Executive of the City Council has declared that this is a major achievement for the city and it is thanks to the effort of officers working in Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure. The council is also working on projects that will help to create a fleet of buses which are powered by hydrogen and it is planned that the fuel for the vehicles is to be produced locally. The aim is to bring this type of vehicle and power to both the north-east region and the country as a whole.
The Commonwheels group will be given use of the vehicles from 14 to18 May, before the conference takes place, and the dates for the conference have been set for 23 to 24 May. The AECC is to be the location of the fuelling station provided by ITM Power.
The European Commission has selected the Hyundai ix35 FCEV as the official testing vehicle so that this greener technology can be used to show how it fits into everyday driving conditions. This is the latest model from Hyundai and it has been given the same convenient features and performance technologies so that it runs in a similar way to a standard vehicle. On a single fuelling, the hydrogen will allow this particular vehicle to cover up to 326 miles.
