Fuel Cell Boost as Hyundai-Ineos Team Up

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

---

23rd November 2020

Hydrogen fuel cell roll-out has seen a boost this week with the cooperation agreement between Hyundai Motor Company and Ineos Automotive.

The pair have signed of a memorandum of understanding to explore new opportunities to accelerate the global hydrogen economy. First amongst this cooperation is the plans to evaluate Hyundai’s proprietary fuel cell system for the recently announced Ineos Grenadier 4×4 vehicle.

As part of the agreement, the companies will jointly investigate opportunities for the production and supply of hydrogen as well as the worldwide deployment of hydrogen applications and technologies. Both will initially seek to facilitate public and private sector projects focused on the development of a hydrogen value chain in Europe.

Ineos recently launched a new business to develop and build clean hydrogen capacity across Europe in support of the drive towards a zero-carbon future. The company currently produces 300,000 tons of hydrogen a year mainly as a by-product from its chemical manufacturing operations. Through its subsidiary Inovyn, Ineos is Europe’s largest existing operator of electrolysis, the critical technology that uses renewable energy to produce hydrogen for power generation, transportation and industrial use.

Saehoon Kim, senior vice-president and head of the Fuel Cell Center at Hyundai, said: “Ineos’ move into the development of a fuel cell electric vehicle and hydrogen ecosystem marks yet another milestone towards sustainable and clean transportation. Hyundai believes this will provide an important low-carbon option across a wide range of sectors. We also hope our decades-long expertise in hydrogen fuel cell work in synergy with Ineos’ expertise in field of chemistry to realize the mass production of green hydrogen and fuel cells for the Grenadier.”

Peter Williams technology director at Ineos, added: “Evaluating new production processes, technology and applications, combined with our existing capabilities puts us in a unique position to meet emerging demand for affordable, low-carbon energy sources and the needs of demanding 4×4 owners in the future.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_