Not so long ago, I was able to test the latest examples of electric vehicle (EV) propulsion, when I sampled both Model S and Model X cars from Tesla. While there is no denying the controversial huff and puff that has emerged from that firm’s unique boss, Mr Elon Musk, in recent times, there is no denying his intuitive and ingenious developments in EV technology. In fact, he does not regard his company as a ‘carmaker’ and prefers the ‘technology’ descript instead.

Tesla has made the automotive headlines for its huge and comparable to internal combustion engine mileage potentials that serve to eradicate ‘range anxiety’, a condition that afflicts EV operators, more familiar with 70-miles range potential. With around 340-miles on-tap and ready access to a comprehensive network of Tesla Superchargers (around 30 minutes for an 80%+ capacity recharge), a Tesla becomes a viable (if costly) mode of daily transport.

However, the rest of the industry is now catching-up, with Audi launching its e-tron SUV model at an intriguing exposition held in Milton Keynes main shopping centre in mid-October. Potential owners were offered brief test drives with the promise of longer ‘lifestyle’ tests available in due course. The e-tron is introduced with a range of 268-miles and a similar fast-charge facility to that of Tesla. While lacking the boastful and headline-grabbing ‘Ludicrous’ management setting of the Tesla performance variants, the Audi EV will blast from 0-60mph in around 5.4s and, when launched officially in early-2019, will carry a list price of £70,805.

While fuel cell technology was much vaunted around five years ago, very little has appeared to happen in respect of Hydrogen, as a fuel source. In fact, apart from the Honda FCX Clarity, which was first to market and does sell in very small numbers in North America, and Toyota’s Mirai, thanks to almost zero refuelling infrastructure development, their appearances on UK roads have been largely publicity stunts. In fact, the latest of these is attributable to Hyundai.

University College London (UCL) identified the capital’s dirtiest roads; those which contain high levels of pollutants including Nitrogen Oxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM). They analysed heat maps, which showed the mean levels of PM and NO2 levels throughout London. Then, UCL teamed-up with Hyundai to highlight the levels of pollution. 

Hyundai’s new fuel cell car, the NEXO, toured the route to show how its air purification system can filter and clean the air. Researchers from UCL began by pumping dirty pollutants from a balloon into the vehicle. The amount of air which passed through the car was equivalent to the total amount of air a typical adult would breathe over 100 years. The dirty particles were then filtered out through the car’s filtration system, which removed 99.9% of the pollutants and emitted into the second balloon.

Hyundai is committed to improving the efficiency and environmental performance of all its vehicles and has been investing billions in bringing a full range of low and zero emission vehicles to the market place. However, it is keen to highlight that such a responsibility cannot rest solely with the carmaker. As such, it is calling for government to invest equally in incentives and infrastructure that would enable British motorists to have better choices, when it comes to fitting a Nexo into their lives. 

According to Hyundai, if 10,000 fuel cell cars were on the road, it would reduce the carbon reduction effect equivalent to planting 60,000 trees and Michael Whiteley, senior researcher at UCL’s Electrochemical Innovation Lab said: “The recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that much more needs to be done to mitigate negative climate change. Our research into fuel cell technology has found it to be a promising transport solution to consider, as an alternative to fossil fuel-dependent cars and battery electric vehicles, which have long charging times. Our research stretches from fundamental material science to full automotive fuel cell power systems for automotive applications. Going forward, we’re building an advanced propulsion facility, where we will develop and evaluate such powertrains.”