Fuel Cell-Powered SUV Santa Fe FCEV on Display at California Coast Rally

MONTEREY, Calif., Sept. 4 -- Hyundai Motor Company has entered its state-of-the-art Santa Fe FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) in the three-day California Coast 2002-California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) Road Rally. Hyundai's Santa Fe FCEV will be riding alongside fuel cell vehicles from DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota -- all CaFCP members. The Road Rally will demonstrate the capabilities and technology of fuel cell mobility on a 300-mile course along the Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey to Santa Barbara from September 4-6.

Many of the featured Road Rally events are open to media and the public, offering coastal communities a sneak peak at fuel cell vehicles. For a complete schedule of events, go to www.cafcp.org/roadrally_timeline.html .

Hyundai's Santa Fe FCEV is one of the first sport utility vehicles powered by a fuel cell. In a major technology breakthrough, the Santa Fe FCEV was the world's first drivable vehicle with a fuel system that can store hydrogen compressed up to 5,000 pounds per square inch (psi) from Quantum Technologies Worldwide, Inc., of Cerritos, Calif. The 5,000 psi tank enables the vehicle to go more than 100 miles in one fueling.

In addition, the Santa Fe FCEV is built with lightweight, performance- boosting aluminum components, helping to give the Santa Fe performance goals comparable with vehicles featuring common internal combustion engines while still maintaining a power-to-weight ratio similar to that of a small SUV. These features place the Santa Fe FCEV among the most commercially viable fuel cell powered vehicles, while eliminating all emissions except water vapor.

Road testing of the Santa Fe FCEV in the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) program has helped Hyundai detect and resolve various technical challenges. The road-testing program, conducted with the assistance of Hyundai's U.S. research and development center, Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., has resulted in the highly refined vehicle that will be on display in Monterey, San Louis Obispo, and Santa Barbara.

Hyundai Motor Company became the sixth automotive member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership in June 2000. The CaFCP is a public-private venture of automakers, energy and fuel cell technology companies, and government agencies working together to advance the commercialization of fuel cell-powered vehicles. The partnership is headquartered in West Sacramento, Calif. and over the next few years, more than 60 fuel cell vehicles will undergo road testing in real-world driving conditions. Since joining the partnership, Hyundai Motor Company has been an active participant in the effort to commercialize alternative-energy, environmentally friendly vehicles and helped to set the standard for fuel cell vehicles.

"Fuel cell technology is one of the most viable options to power next- generation automobiles," said S.K. Kim, senior executive vice president of research and development for Hyundai Motor Company. "The CaFCP Road Rally offers a valuable opportunity for the California Fuel Cell Partnership to showcase the achievement of its members. Hyundai is proud of its advancements in alternative-fuel vehicles and is actively participating in the worldwide effort to bring these vehicles to market."

The Santa Fe FCEV

Hyundai's fuel cell vehicle is based on the Santa Fe, a sport utility vehicle that went on sale in the U.S. market during model year 2001, making it the world's first sport utility vehicle powered by a fuel cell. The Santa Fe is among a new breed of "crossover" SUVs that feature a car-like, unit-body construction, not a body-on-frame design like most SUVs and trucks, which can lead to a harsher ride. Besides being based on an SUV, a highly popular body style in the U.S. market, the Santa Fe FCEV is designed to feature extremely low noise levels, high fuel efficiency and roomy passenger and cargo space -- small enough for good handling and easy parking, but large enough to carry families and their cargo, and it is identical to that of a standard, gasoline- powered Santa Fe.

Size and space were strong considerations when Hyundai built the Santa Fe FCEV. The engineers packaged the fuel cell and hydrogen systems so that the basic shape of the Santa Fe would remain unchanged, and the ample passenger room and cargo areas would be unaffected.

The Santa Fe's optimum space design was achieved by packaging the fuel cell system under the rear seats. The hydrogen storage tank is in place of a Korean-market LPG (liquefied propane gas) tank, and the electric motor with control system, is under-hood in what was the engine compartment.

Because the fuel cell system does not intrude into the vehicle's passenger or storage area, the Santa Fe FCEV is a step closer to commercialization than many previous fuel cell vehicles.

The hydrogen fuel cell system that powers the Santa Fe's motor was developed by Hyundai's partner, UTC Fuel Cells of South Windsor, Conn., a division of United Technologies Corporation. It is among the world's best internally humidified type fuel cells, producing 75 kilowatts net power under near-ambient pressure. The UTC system is smaller, yet has more power, than many fuel cell systems in previous vehicles. It also dispenses with the high- pressure requirements of other fuel cells, creating a simpler, lower-cost system.

In April 2001, Hyundai teamed with UTC, which specializes in the development of fuel cell power plants, under a joint development project to share hydrogen fuel cell system technology and apply it to automobiles.

Enova Systems of Torrance, Calif., a major developer of electric and hybrid drivetrains for Hyundai, is supplying the electric drivetrain, motor and control unit.

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. It is responsible for the technical development of automobiles in North America, including governmental certification issues. Its headquarters are located in Ann Arbor, Mich., with two branch offices in the Los Angeles area.