Hyundai to build hydrogen vehicle refuelling station at Australia HQ

Hyundai Motor Company Australia announced this week that it will build a new hydrogen vehicle refueller at its corporate headquarters in Sydney, which will support its hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Currently, Hyundai has the Nexo FCEV crossover available for lease in Australia, with 26 officially registered to date nationwide. The company’s truck division also makes the Xcient fuel cell truck that it introduced in May 2021, and there are 10 registered on Australian roads according to Vfacts.

Though FCEVs remain a contentious concept for many, duelling and parallel technological development remains a vital component of innovation and societal change.

Continuing to develop its own hydrogen-fuelled EVs – including the Nexo – Hyundai is further committing to boost Australia’s hydrogen mobility sector with a commitment to build a $1.7 million hydrogen refuelling facility at its corporate headquarters in Macquarie Park, Sydney.

The new hydrogen refueller will replace Hyundai’s existing hydrogen refuelling station which has been in operation since 2014 and will produce its own green hydrogen through the use of an integrated electrolyser which will be capable of producing up to 20kg of hydrogen per day.

Capable of providing 700bpar refuelling capability, as an example, the Hyundai Nexo FCEV would take only 5 minutes to refuel and deliver up to 666-kilometres of range (WLTP). The new refueller will subsequently go some way to supporting Hyundai’s expanding range of HCEVs by providing faster refuelling and green hydrogen generated on-site.

“This investment forms part of Hyundai’s long-term commitment to a zero-emission future for Australia,” said Ted Lee, Hyundai Motor Company Australia CEO.

“Hydrogen fuel cell mobility is anticipated to play an integral role in the country’s transition to cleaner drivetrains and we intend to help lay the steppingstones toward making this vision a reality.”

Hyundai’s new hydrogen refuelling station will be built in partnership with Australian gas technology company ENGV – who will be responsible for local integration, installation, and ongoing operational services – while the station itself, a SimpleFuelFast, will be supplied by US-based PDC Machines and IVYS Energy Solutions.

The same combination of companies (ENGV and PDC Machines and IVYS Energy Solutions) are also working together on CSIRO’s Victorian Hydrogen Hub, a hydrogen refuelling system to be built at the national science agency’s Melbourne facility.

“We are excited to bring our hands-on experience developing hydrogen refuelling infrastructure across Australia to the HMCA project,” said ENGV CEO, Sean Blythe. “Together with Hyundai, we are committed to growing the country’s hydrogen sector in a safe and sustainable way.”

The new hydrogen refuelling station also follows on the heels of Hyundai’s agreements with the ACT and Queensland governments to introduce Hyundai Nexo SUVs into their existing fleets – with at least one vehicle introduced into Queensland’s police department.