When it comes to alternate energy sources, most automakers think
simply—battery power or bust. That’s what makes the Hyundai Tucson Fuel
Cell an outlier. The SUV will be the first mass-produced hydrogen car in
the U.S. when it debuts this spring.
Because hydrogen fuel
infrastructure is more or less non-existent, Hyundai’s rollout will be
small. The car will be available at select dealers in Southern
California, all within range of the company’s sources of hydrogen, which
include a nearby waste water treatment plant. Local drivers will be
able to “gas” up for free at any of seven distribution stations. A
fill-up takes less than 10 minutes and lasts for up to 300 miles. The
company claims that the Tucson charges more quickly and has a longer
range than traditional EVs. It’s also clean: The only exhaust is water
vapor.