Previous editions of the “A Postcard From” series focused on Hyundai BAYON, Hyundai SANTA FE and Hyundai TUCSON. This new installment focuses on the brand’s fuel cell passenger car, the Hyundai NEXO.
Hyundai SUVs all share the same family resemblance. In addition to adopting a resolutely avant-garde stylistic language and offering customers a choice of electric engines, their names all come from international tourist destinations.
Welcome to Denmark! (Velkommen til Denmark)
The Hyundai NEXO pays homage to the town of Nexø on the Danish island of Bornholm. This futuristic SUV is totally inspired by Danish nature. As a fuel cell vehicle (FCEV), it emits only water vapor, helping to preserve the country’s natural beauty. With its range of 666 km (WLTP), NEXO can circumnavigate the island of Bornholm more than three times along its coast. Plus, it only takes five minutes to refuel. NEXO’s impressive battery life lends itself to many other properties. A road trip through Denmark from Esbjerg to Nexø is doable without stopping to refuel.
First stop… Esbjerg
Hyundai started its winter road trip in Esbjerg, a port town on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwestern Denmark. To the west of Esbjerg, very close to Sædding beach, stands the sculpture Mennesket ved havet (Man meets the sea), a nine-metre-high white monument depicting four seated men. There to celebrate the city’s centenary in 1994, the sculpture is one of the area’s main tourist attractions. Opposite is the Museum of Fishing and the Sea.
Despite mild winters in Denmark, temperatures often drop below 0°C. Fortunately, NEXO is designed to withstand the cold. Along with heated seats and steering wheel, its powertrain can withstand extreme temperatures and environments. Even at an outside temperature of -30°C, NEXO can start up in a record time of 30 seconds.
A true SUV, the NEXO offers customers all the space they need to transport their bulkiest winter sports clothing and equipment. Thanks to the compact dimensions of its unified three-tank system – a world first – the Hyundai FCEV offers more space for passengers and their luggage, with a perfectly flat load floor guaranteeing a boot volume of 461 liters and the possibility of fold down the rear seats, increasing the volume to 1,466 litres.
In Esbjerg, Hyundai also stopped at one of the properties of H2 Energy Europe, a Swiss company specializing in renewable energies. There, Hyundai is helping to develop Europe’s largest hydrogen plant, which converts green electricity into hydrogen that can be used directly to power trucks and other heavy ground transportation vehicles. The plant will open in 2024 and create 200 to 300 new permanent jobs in the region.
In terms of new hydrogen investments, Hyundai Motor Group has also launched a new brand, HTWO, representing its world-class hydrogen fuel cell system. In addition, HTWO has been supplying XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy trucks since summer 2020 and ELEC CITY Fuel Cell buses since autumn 2021 to several European cities.
Second stop… Odense
On the road to Odense, Denmark’s third-largest city, NEXO’s integrated multi-link rear suspension proved particularly effective. The suspension geometry has been optimized to improve ride smoothness and comfort as well as better grip – ideal for driving on the twisty roads of Denmark.
Visitors to the age-old city of Odense can visit Eeskov Castle, Funen Village and Ladby’s Boat. Odense is also the birthplace of famous fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen. You can visit his house and dive into his universe.
The author of The Little Mermaid is one of the most famous Danes and a great traveler. He would have said: To live is to travel. As a leader in providing alternative engine technology solutions, Hyundai provides vehicles suitable for all types of needs to facilitate the mobility of more people.
Driving on the narrow roads of Odense is not easy. However, thanks to the blind spot monitor, drivers benefit from better visibility during driving and maneuvering, guaranteeing the absolute safety of passengers and other road users. Hyundai is the first automaker to offer this technology, which uses wide-angle surround cameras mounted on the sides of the vehicle to display areas on the digital instrument cluster that are not visible through conventional rear-view mirrors.
Last stop… Nexø
Nexø, on the sunny island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, is a haven of peace, with sandy beaches, steep cliffs, lush forests and rolling terrain. Across the island, visitors will find several fishing villages – most consisting of a dozen small, colorful half-timbered houses.
In addition to admiring the beauty of Denmark through NEXO’s windows, passengers can also observe nature up close through the large panoramic roof. To delve into the country’s history, visitors can head to the ruins of Hammershus Castle or the Helligdomsklipperne, also known as the Sanctuary Cliffs. To explore nature, tourists can head to Hammerknuden Nature Reserve or the famous white sand beach of Dueodde.
FCEV is the solution of choice for all customers who love innovative technologies and who wish to benefit from all the advantages of a battery-powered electric vehicle that can quickly refuel their vehicle. Launched in 2018, Hyundai NEXO is the second generation FCEV mass-produced by Hyundai. Hyundai was the first manufacturer to mass-produce FCEVs and maintains its leadership in sustainable automotive technologies.
Disclaimer… consumption and CO2 emission values
Hydrogen consumption in the Hyundai NEXO combined cycle (kg H2/100 km)… 0.95; combined cycle CO2 emissions in g/km… 0 (WLTP).
Andre Tirlet
A postcard from… Nexø, the Danish winter road trip aboard the Hyundai NEXO – Luxe Infinity