Hyundai reveals Initium hydrogen fuel-cell concept

Hyundai revealed the eye-catching Initium concept at its Goyang Motorstudio in Seoul today, giving the first glimpse of its next-gen hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle.

The design study is billed as the precursor to a production vehicle that will debut in the first half of 2025. It will follow in the footsteps of the Nexo FCEV, which launched in 2018. The Nexo has accumulated 40,000 cumulative sales in selected countries worldwide.

Initium is a Latin word that means ‘beginning’ or ‘first’. The moniker signifies Hyundai’s status as a hydrogen energy pioneer and its commitment to developing a hydrogen society.

Apart from its cutting-edge powertrain, the Initium also debuts Hyundai’s new design language, ‘Art of Steel,’ which draws inspiration from the stunning N Vision 74 and the Ioniq 5 EV currently on sale in the Middle East and other global markets.

Hyundai execs acknowledge it’s still early days for fuel-cell vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure. Still, the company is active on both fronts under its HTWO banner. They are working on efficient hydrogen production, storage, and transport and on the development of fuel-cell powertrains.

This technology is relevant to our region as the GCC has unveiled ambitious plans for a hydrogen economy. High solar yields and abundant land provide excellent conditions for producing hydrogen from renewable electricity. The clean fuel can offer more than mere diversification for the Gulf; it can allow countries to maintain economic growth in a decarbonised world.

Several pilot programs to trial hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are underway in the Middle East. Saudi Transport General Authority (TGA) recently announced it will switch to hydrogen-powered vehicles for taxis as a test case. The initiative aligns with efforts to increase the use of sustainable clean energy alternatives.

Hyundai has been working on hydrogen fuel-cell technology since 1998. While early vehicles had limitations in terms of durability, range, and performance, that’s been largely addressed in the Initium, which is backed by highly credible stats.

For now, Hyundai has revealed that the production version of the Initium will have a driving range of 650 km-plus on a full tank of hydrogen, so range anxiety clearly won’t be an issue.

The company also quotes a sub-8-second 0-100 kph split. The crucial 60-120 kph increment (vital for overtaking) is dispatched in under 6 seconds.

The key element of the Initium’s powertrain is a fuel-cell stack. This uses a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity on the go. The car’s actual propulsion comes from a single electric motor that sends 150kW (204hp) to the front axle.

Durability used to be a key concern for early fuel-cell vehicles. But Hyundai execs say the Initium will comfortably offer a working life of 10 years/160,000km and will withstand extremely hot and cold conditions. Extensive testing in the Middle East has been conducted.

At the unveiling, Hyundai design boss SangYup Lee said he and his team opted for an SUV-esque profile due to the packaging benefits of this format and the aesthetics. “With Initium, we’ve crafted a more SUV-like design that is solid and safe, reflecting our dedication to our customers through ‘customer-centric design’,” Lee said.

Although the car’s interior has yet to be revealed, Lee promises ample head and shoulder room in the back. He says there’s enough room in the luggage bay for a full-size golf bag. Lee says seatbacks with a large reclining angle cater to second-row passengers, while a large rear-door opening angle makes for easy entry and egress.

The Initium’s design language is relatively clean and simple. It is similar in some ways to the Ioniq 5, although it remains to be seen how much of this will translate to the production version.

The blocky profile is enhanced by black plastic wheelarch extensions that encase the XXL 21-inch rims. These wheels are said to minimise aero drag, while the chunky tyres have low rolling resistance to further optimise energy consumption.

The production version of the Initium will be equipped with a navigation system that incorporates an FCEV-specific route planner. This system addresses one of the biggest pain points for FCEV buyers: refuelling infrastructure. This feature will enable drivers to plot an optimal route and find refuelling stations along the way without accessing a separate app or making a phone call.

Users can check the location accessibility and operating status of an identified station. It also displays the number of waiting vehicles to determine whether refuelling at that site is feasible.

Another handy feature is the electricity generated by the Initium’s hydrogen fuel cell. This electricity can be used to power and charge various household appliances and personal devices via the concept’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature.

Notably, the outdoor terminal is designed to connect directly to a 220V household outlet.  This transforms the Initium from a means of transportation into a potential energy supplier.

Large hydrogen tanks facilitate the Initium’s 650 km-plus driving range, but there’s no need to be concerned about cinematic-style explosions. The car has been engineered to meet all global crash-test safety standards. To this end, the vehicle is reinforced with a multi-skeleton structure at the front and a side body protective structure.

The safety arsenal includes nine airbags plus a raft of collision avoidance and mitigation driver-assist systems.

Hyundai plans to showcase the Initium at public reveals at the Los Angeles Auto Show and Auto Guangzhou in November. The production version is set to launch in the first half of 2025.