Hyundai has deployed five zero-emissions Next hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles into the Queensland government fleet as the latest step in its continuing commitment to hydrogen as an eco-friendly motoring solution.
The NEXO fleet was launched at The Gabba in Brisbane, with Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, and the Hyundai-sponsored Brisbane Lions present.
The Next fleet is designed to drive awareness and is duly dressed in an eye-catching Indigenous-inspired livery featuring a hydrogen nucleus and the Brisbane River (Maiwar), created by Brisbane-based Indigenous-owned creative company Iscariot Media.
We love the fact that one of the oldest cultures on Earth is celebrating the future in clean, green motoring.
A Brisbane hydrogen station will provide the vital refueling infrastructure and joins stations in Canberra and Melbourne, and Australia’s first hydrogen refueling station at the Hyundai Motor Company headquarters in Sydney.
The Queensland government NEXO deployment marks yet another milestone as Hyundai Motor Company Australia, the government and other stakeholders work towards the implementation of Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which aims to establish Australia at the forefront of the global hydrogen industry by 2030.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer, Jun Heo said Hyundai is proud to see its advanced hydrogen technology deployed into the Queensland government fleet as another step towards a clean motoring future.
“We congratulate the Queensland government for its vision and advanced policy as the state moves toward a zero-emissions future with hydrogen as a key component,” Mr. Heo said.
The Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni said the Next fleet will demonstrate the potential of Hyundai’s leading-edge technology with the aim of increasing the uptake of hydrogen as a clean energy source.
“This trial aims to accelerate the uptake of hydrogen technology and support Queensland’s push to position itself as a global hydrogen superpower,” Minister de Brenni said.
“These head-turning fuel cell electric vehicles will be fueled with home-grown Queensland hydrogen as they are tested in on-road conditions over the next three years,” he said.
“Leasing them as part of our trial of fuel cell electric vehicle technology highlights the fact that QFleet – the government’s fleet manager – continues to drive Queensland’s transition to cleaner and greener transport options.
“This, in turn, helps grow our local hydrogen supply chain and that means more jobs for Queenslanders in this emerging sector.
“It means jobs sourcing raw materials for clean hydrogen production and manufacturing state-of-the-art technology, right through to exporting this green energy to an increasingly hydrogen-hungry world market.”
“The Queensland Government has set a target of zero net emissions by 2050 and the transition to low and zero-emission electric vehicles will be a significant driver of this target being met,” he said.
With Next as the technological flagship of an ever-growing green vehicle portfolio, Hyundai is the only brand in Australia to offer hydrogen fuel-cell electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid (IONIQ), and battery electric (Kona, IONIQ, and the forthcoming IONIQ 5) vehicles.
The Hyundai Next offers a range of 666km (WLTP) with a refueling time of three to five minutes, in a futuristic compact SUV package that emits only water vapour from its exhaust.
The ANCAP five-star-safe NEXO is the first government-certified fuel-cell electric vehicle for use on Australian roads.
