Hyundai Really Wants to Build Their Weird Walking Cars

We’ve seen many great Hyundai specials over the years, but THIS Hyundai is really special…

Hyundai announced the formation of its new New Horizons Studio on Monday dedicated to hyper-capable "Ultimate Mobility Vehicles." These vehicles combine wheeled travel and robotics to travel over even the harshest off-road terrain. So far, the concepts also look like giant human-carrying Boston Dynamics dogs.

It's the stuff of science fiction, and Hyundai Vice President Dr. John Suh, who's leading the New Horizons Studio, knows it.

“We aim to create the world’s first transformer-class vehicle, also known as the Ultimate Mobility Vehicle,” notes Dr. Suh.

TRANSFORMER-CLASS. Will this fold back down into an i20 WRC? Should I be looking to Hyundai instead to finally deliver on that life-size Gundam I've always dreamed of? Why am I asking you these things instead of Hyundai?

They're not to giant laser-shooting battle suits just yet, sadly. New Horizons Studio's first project is to further develop the Hyundai Elevate concept from the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show. The Elevate has wheels on its four legs, meaning that it can pick up those legs to get to otherwise unreachable locations.

Hyundai believes that the Elevate could be useful as a first responder vehicle in natural disasters, or as a vehicle that can pick up wheelchair users who may not be able to travel down a ramp to get into a car. Back the Elevate directly up to the door, and let them skip the stairs.

While the Elevate will most likely not be a consumer vehicle - you can still get a great special on a Hyundai car at Group 1 Hyundai.

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Original article from https://www.thedrive.com/news/

Hyundai Works On Hydrogen Cars In Australia With Fuel Companies

We’re a long way from getting hydrogen-powered cars in South Africa, but it’s great to know progress is being made with replacing polluting fossil fuel-powered cars… with Hyundai hydrogen cars?!

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Gas companies will partner with Hyundai to supply refuelling infrastructure for hydrogen-powered cars in Australia next year in a bid to accelerate the take-up of the zero-emissions fuel technology.

Energy infrastructure giant Jemena and Wesfarmers-owned Coregas have been in talks with carmaker Hyundai to supply "green hydrogen" – generated from wind and energy power – for a re-filling station in Sydney's Macquarie Park.

The Hyundai Nexo is the first hydrogen-fuelled vehicle to be certified by the Australian government for use on the road.

There is little doubt among the world's largest energy companies and automakers that fossil fuel-guzzling cars will be increasingly shunned by consumers and even banned in some jurisdictions.

Fuel-cell vehicles that use hydrogen – and emit only water and heat – have been overshadowed by the vastly greater and ever-increasing mainstream success of electric battery-powered cars like Teslas. Hydrogen vehicles account for less than 0.1 per cent of vehicles produced each year.

Jemena chief executive Frank Tudor said the lack of critical refuelling infrastructure was regularly cited as a "handbrake to hydrogen vehicle sales".

"Our agreement with Hyundai and Coregas releases some of that pressure and is an opportunity to demonstrate that renewably generated hydrogen gas can be made directly available to the vehicle and transport sectors," Mr Tudor said.

Although the fuel-cell vehicles are yet to reach large-scale production, supporters of the technology say hydrogen cars boast advantages over electric cars, including longer range and quicker refuelling times, and believe they could gain ground as more refuelling infrastructure becomes available. China, Japan and South Korea have been setting ambitious targets to put millions of hydrogen-powered vehicles on their roads by the end of the next decade, investing heavily in refuelling stations.

Hyundai's Macquarie Park facility is the country's only permanent refuelling station. Construction projects in Brisbane, Melbourne and the ACT have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the memorandum of understanding between the Australian gas companies and Hyundai, the hydrogen will be produced and delivered from Jemena's $15 million Western Sydney Green Gas project, which has been 50 per cent funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

"Hydrogen is going to play a fairly significant role in industrial-heating areas, power generation, transportation," Mr Tudor said. "It's going to be one of the fuels that help countries decarbonise."

Hydrogen is touted as a growth industry in the energy sector, as an alternative fuel source and for its ability to store the energy generated by renewable sources such as wind and solar. It is also being explored as a top diversification strategy for traditional oil and gas producers determined to stay relevant in a decarbonised future.

Hyundai's Nexo SUV is the first fuel-cell vehicle certified for use on Australia's roads. A fleet of 20 of the cars has been leased by the ACT government and is expected to be deployed later this year.

Energy Networks Australia, representing power and gas infrastructure companies, said hydrogen would play a significant role in decarbonising the energy system. "Australia is punching above its weight on hydrogen research and development," chief executive Andrew Dillon said.

While we wait for the inevitable switch to eco-friendly vehicles - we still need to get around in an affordable car that’s available at South African dealerships like Group 1 Hyundai. Luckily there is a range of vehicles available and honestly, Hyundai prices are really decent for what you’ll be buying.

That begs another question - will the Hyundai prices be as affordable for hydrogen car, as they are currently?
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Article from https://hyundaidrivers.wordpress.com/2021/03/19/hyundai-works-on-hydrogen-cars-in-australia-with-fuel-companies/