Hydrogen-powered
NEXOs hit Queensland
roads.
- Hyundai has deployed five zero-emissions NEXO hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles into the Queensland government fleet
- The deployment underlines both Hyundai’s and the Queensland government’s commitment to hydrogen and complements a 20-strong ACT government NEXO fleet
- NEXO has a range of 666km (WLTP) with a refuelling time of three to five minutes, in a futuristic compact SUV with ANCAP five-star safety and the latest autonomous driving capabilities and smart driving assistance systems
- NEXO is the first hydrogen-powered car in Australia, from the company that pioneered the mass production FCEV
Hyundai has deployed five zero-emissions NEXO hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles into the Queensland government fleet as the latest step in its continuing commitment to hydrogen as an eco-friendly motoring solution.
The NEXO fleet was launched on Saturday (21 August) at the GABBA in Brisbane, with Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, and the Hyundai-sponsored Brisbane Lions present in support of the QLD hydrogen revolution, ahead of the final-round AFL clash.
The NEXO fleet is designed to drive awareness and is duly dressed in an eye-catching Indigenous-inspired livery featuring a hydrogen nucleus and the Brisbane River (Maiwar), created by Brisbane-based Indigenous-owned creative company Iscariot Media.
A Brisbane hydrogen station will provide the vital refuelling infrastructure and joins stations in Canberra and Melbourne, and Australia’s first hydrogen refuelling station at the Hyundai Motor Company headquarters in Sydney.
The futuristic NEXO SUV is the first hydrogen-powered car available in Australia, and the fleet of five QLD government NEXOs bolster a national fleet established in 2021 with the rollout of 20 NEXOs for the ACT government and emergency services.
The Queensland government NEXO deployment marks yet another milestone as Hyundai Motor Company Australia, the government and other stakeholders work towards the implementation of Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which aims to establish Australia at the forefront of the global hydrogen industry by 2030.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer, Jun Heo said Hyundai is proud to see its advanced hydrogen technology deployed into the Queensland government fleet as another step towards a clean motoring future.
“We congratulate the Queensland Government for its vision and advanced policy as the state moves toward a zero-emissions future with hydrogen as a key component,” Mr Heo said.
“The zero-emissions NEXO is a cornerstone in our green vehicle line-up, and joins hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric models to underscore our leadership in eco-mobility and our commitment to developing sustainable motoring solutions.”
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni said the NEXO fleet will demonstrate the potential of Hyundai’s leading-edge technology with the aim of increasing the uptake of hydrogen as a clean energy source.
“This trial aims to accelerate the uptake of hydrogen technology and support Queensland’s push to position itself as a global hydrogen superpower,”Minister de Brenni said.
“It will demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of hydrogen for passenger vehicles and possibly lead the way for hydrogen’s roll-out to trucks, trains and marine applications. “These head-turning fuel cell electric vehicles will be fuelled with home-grown Queensland hydrogen as they are tested in on-road conditions over the next three years,”he said.
“Leasing them as part of our trial of fuel cell electric vehicle technology highlights the fact that QFleet - the government’s fleet manager - continues to drive Queensland’s transition to cleaner and greener transport options.
“This, in turn, helps grow our local hydrogen supply chain and that means more jobs for Queenslanders in this emerging sector.
“It means jobs sourcing raw materials for clean hydrogen production and manufacturing state-of-the-art technology, right through to exporting this green energy to an increasingly hydrogen-hungry world market.”
Minister de Brenni said the transport sector is Queensland’s second-largest source of greenhouse gases and therefore a key emissions reduction focus.
“The Queensland Government has set a target of zero net emissions by 2050 and the transition to low and zero-emission electric vehicles will be a significant driver of this target being met,”he said.
With NEXO as the technological flagship of an ever-growing green vehicle portfolio, Hyundai is the only brand in Australia to offer hydrogen fuel-cell electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid (IONIQ), and battery electric (Kona, IONIQ, and the forthcoming IONIQ 5) vehicles.
The Hyundai NEXO offers a range of 666km (WLTP) with a refuelling time of three to five minute, in a futuristic compact SUV package that emits only water vapour from its exhaust.
The ANCAP five-star-safe NEXO is the first government certified fuel-cell electric vehicle for use on Australian roads.
NEXO, as Hyundai’s second-generation production fuel-cell vehicle, combines clean mobility with the latest autonomous driving capabilities and smart advanced driving assistance systems.