A demonstration fleet of 32 fuel cell vehicles, each featuring an on-board hydrogen storage tank, is being planned by the Hyundai motor company.

Each vehicle will be based on the Tucson SUV model, recently unveiled by Hyundai as a successor to the Santa Fe, which was launched four years ago.  The vehicles will feature UTC proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which use platinum electrodes.

The hydrogen tank will provide fuel to an 80 kilowatt UTC fuel cell, and the power provided will be such that the car can start and operate in sub-zero temperatures.

Kim Sang-Kwon, the president of research and development for Hyundai Kia Motors, told Fuel Cell Works: "Entering this new phase of our programme is really quite exciting because we will be able to build fuel cell vehicles in higher volumes for fleet testing applications."

"It also brings us one step closer to the commercialisation of fuel cell vehicles."