On the 18th, we drove the Hyundai Motor hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV·Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) 'the all-new Nexo' for a round trip of 100 km from near Gimpo Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, to near Incheon International Airport. The all-new Nexo is a completely redesigned model introduced seven years after its initial launch in March 2018.

The Nexo, a mid-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV·Sport Utility Vehicle) with a length of 4,750 mm, a width of 1,865 mm, and a height of 1,640 mm, was impressive from the exterior. It utilized the material feel of steel but shaped the edges of the hood in curves, giving it a robust yet soft appearance.

The digital side mirror, half the size of a typical side mirror, and the four square LED positioning lamps arranged in a row at the front gave off a futuristic vibe.

Hyundai Motor's hydrogen electric vehicle 'The All-New Nexo'. /Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

The driving performance of the Nexo was comparable to that of gasoline cars. Just a slight push on the accelerator quickly increased the speed. The previous model received evaluations saying it had 'insufficient acceleration compared to electric vehicles,' but the new model increased the maximum output of the fuel cell system by 11% and doubled the output of the high-voltage battery.

The Nexo's 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time is 7.8 seconds, which is faster than the previous model (9.2 seconds), and a faster sport mode has been added for torque response.

There was almost no wind noise even during high-speed driving. Hyundai Motor applied noise-reducing tires to all models and installed dynamic dampers on key hardware that transmitted noise to block it. It also utilized shock absorbers that absorbed the impact of the wheels dropping at bumps or road irregularities, resulting in minimal shocks when passing over speed bumps.

The interior of Hyundai Motor's hydrogen electric vehicle The All-New Nexo. /Courtesy of Lee Yoon-jung

The drawbacks of the hydrogen fuel cell system have also been improved. When the hydrogen fuel cell electric motor is operated, pure water is emitted, but any water remaining inside can freeze when temperatures drop, requiring management. Hyundai Motor added a 'Wake up Function' that periodically activates while parked to check the system's status and perform necessary controls. This reduces the delay in vehicle startup and ensures residual water is only discharged when absolutely necessary.

The angle of the rear seatback has been increased from 23 degrees to 37 degrees, and the opening angle of the door has been expanded from 70 degrees to 80 degrees, increasing the ingress and egress space by 65 mm. The trunk capacity is 510 liters (L), an increase of 49 L compared to the previous model. It can hold up to four sets of golf bags and Boston bags. Folding the second row increases the trunk capacity to 1,630 L.

The route planner function of Hyundai Motor's hydrogen electric vehicle The All-New Nexo guides on hydrogen levels and nearby hydrogen charging stations. /Courtesy of Lee Yoon-jung

The issue remains the inadequate charging infrastructure. As of the end of May, there are a total of 214 hydrogen charging stations across the country, which is significantly less than the more than 11,000 gas stations. To minimize charging inconvenience, Hyundai Motor increased the driving range per charge from 609 km to 720 km. The charging time is relatively short at 5 minutes.

A 'Route Planner' that provides real-time information on hydrogen charging stations has also been added. This function assesses whether the customer can drive to a set destination based on the current hydrogen balance, considering the operational status of nearby hydrogen charging stations and the situation of waiting vehicles, guiding the optimal route.

The selling prices of the Nexo are ▲Exclusive 76.44 million won ▲Exclusive Special 79.28 million won ▲Prestige 83.45 million won. With government subsidies (22.5 million won) and local government subsidies (7 million to 15 million won), it is possible to purchase starting from 38.94 million won.