Hyundai unveils hydrogen FCEV concept Initium

Yesterday, Hyundai Motor Company unveiled its Initium hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept at its ‘Clearly Committed’ event at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang.

Initium provides a preview of a new production FCEV that Hyundai Motor plans to unveil in the first half of next year. Initium is a Latin word meaning ‘beginning’ or ‘first’. “It represents Hyundai Motor’s status as a hydrogen energy pioneer and its commitment to developing a hydrogen society,” says the press release.

“Hyundai Motor’s clear, unwavering commitment to hydrogen over the past 27 years is rooted in our belief in its potential as a clean, accessible, and therefore fair energy source for everyone,” said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, at the event. “We are dedicated to pioneering a future where everyone uses hydrogen in everything and everywhere. We invite you to join us on this journey.”

New design language

At the unveiling, SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design, presented the Initium concept and Hyundai’s new ‘Art of Steel’ design language.

“Our challenge began from the manufacturing stage, where we pushed the formability of steel to the extreme to create a form of art,” Lee said. “With Initium, we’ve crafted a more solid and safe SUV-like design that reflects our dedication to our customers through ‘customer-centric design’.”

Initium’s design integrates the H2 symbol, representing Hyundai Motor’s vision for a hydrogen-driven future. “The ‘+’-inspired graphic, part of Initium’s lighting signature, blends with the bumper, creating a distinctive FCEV-specific design cue marked by unique lighting, solid volumes, and refined elegance.”

Initium’s SUV-like aesthetic wants to integrate “city living functionality with outdoor adventure capability”.  The concept’s 21-inch wheels complement the overall design, “with the vehicle’s rugged roof rack adding practicality for those with both urban and outdoor lifestyles.”

Performance, comfort, and safety

Initium’s development focused on three primary aspects: superior driving range and enhanced performance, reputed to be key strengths of hydrogen cars; a spacious interior and luggage area, making it ideal for families; and convenience and safety features distinctive to hydrogen cars.

One of the most significant advantages of a hydrogen FCEV is an impressive driving range and the flexibility this brings. Hyundai Motor has equipped the concept with large hydrogen fuel tanks to maximize the vehicle’s range, targeted at more than 650 km between refueling.

As for performance, Initium offers good acceleration and smooth overtaking capability. By further developing its fuel cell technology, the company has increased the output of the stack and enhanced battery capacity, allowing for an electric motor output of up to 150 kW.

Initium includes an FCEV-specific route planner that addresses one of FCEV buyers’ most significant pain points: charging infrastructure. With this feature, users can easily plot an optimal route and find charging stations along the way without having to access a separate app or make a phone call.

Users can also check the location accessibility and operating status of an identified charging station, as well as the number of waiting vehicles and, therefore, the possibility of charging.

The car’s hydrogen fuel cell provides electricity without emitting any pollutants. This electricity can power and charge various household appliances and personal devices via the concept’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature. Notably, the outdoor terminal is designed to connect directly to a 220V household outlet, transforming Initium from a means of transportation into an energy supplier.

Hyundai Motor plans to showcase Initium at the Los Angeles Auto Show and Auto Guangzhou in November, further solidifying its position as a global leader in hydrogen mobility. The production version of the Initium concept is set to launch in the first half of 2025.