Katerina Swanson
The Hyundai Nexo is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that is currently only sold in California due to the limited number of hydrogen refueling stations. The Nexo is available in two trims: the Nexo Blue, with a range of 380 miles, and the Nexo Limited, with a range of 354 miles. The base price of the Nexo is over $60,000, and while Hyundai offers complimentary hydrogen fuel for the first three years, the cost of hydrogen is currently around $17.49/kg, which works out to be more expensive than an efficient diesel car on a per-mile basis. In terms of maintenance, the Nexo has short service intervals of 6,000 miles or 12 months, and there are only a few dealers qualified to service the vehicle, mostly clustered around California.
Characteristics and Values of the Nexo Fuel Cell Car:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Hydrogen |
| Fuel Economy | 53mpg (test car), 61 MPGe (Blue), 57 MPGe (Limited) |
| Refueling Time | 5 minutes |
| Range | 380 miles |
| Horsepower | 161 |
| Torque | 291 pound-feet |
| Zero-to-60-mph | 8.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 70 mph |
| Braking Distance | 169 feet from 70 mph |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
| Cargo Space | 30 cubic feet behind the back seat, 57 cubic feet with rear seats folded |
| Safety Features | Forward-collision avoidance system with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control |
| Warranty | 5-year/unlimited-mileage warranty on the vehicle, powertrain, and fuel cells; 8-year/125,000-mile warranty on the small lithium-ion battery |
| Maintenance | Complimentary scheduled maintenance offered by Hyundai; short service intervals of 6,000 miles or 12 months |
| Refueling Infrastructure | Limited, primarily in California |
| Cost | $59,345 (Blue), $62,845 (Limited) |
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen fuel costs
The cost of hydrogen fuel is a significant factor influencing the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell cars, such as the Hyundai Nexo. In California, hydrogen fuel typically costs around $25 per kilogram, resulting in approximately $135 to fill up a standard car. This high cost is a barrier to the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Pat Griffin, president of North America at Hyzon Motors, a manufacturer of heavy-duty hydrogen-powered vehicles, suggested that hydrogen fuel should be priced closer to $10 per kilogram to become more competitive.
The Hyundai Nexo, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), is currently one of the few FCEVs available for sale in the United States. While the Nexo offers quick refuelling times of around five minutes and an impressive cruising range, the high cost of hydrogen fuel can make it more expensive to operate than an efficient diesel or petrol car. In the UK, for example, hydrogen fuel costs approximately £12 per kilogram, resulting in a cost of around £80 to fill up a 400-mile tank.
To address the high cost of hydrogen fuel, some car manufacturers, such as Hyundai, offer incentives to early adopters of FCEVs. For instance, Hyundai provides complimentary hydrogen fuel for the first six years or $15,000 worth of fuel for purchasers of the Nexo, and three years of complimentary fuel for those who lease the vehicle. Additionally, Hyundai offers a complimentary rental car for seven days per year for longer trips, recognising the limitations imposed by the sparse hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
The development of a robust hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is crucial to reducing the cost of hydrogen fuel. Currently, the availability of hydrogen refuelling stations is limited, with California, a leader in this regard, having approximately 63 hydrogen fuelling stations. As demand for hydrogen fuel increases, it is expected that the cost will decrease, creating a more favourable environment for the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
While the Hyundai Nexo and other FCEVs offer promising alternatives to traditional petrol or diesel vehicles, the cost of hydrogen fuel remains a significant consideration for consumers. It is hoped that through increased adoption, improvements in infrastructure, and advancements in hydrogen production, the cost of hydrogen fuel will become more competitive, making FCEVs a more viable option for environmentally conscious drivers.
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Refuelling inconvenience
The Hyundai Nexo is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that uses compressed hydrogen to create power in a fuel cell stack. While refuelling the Nexo takes only around five minutes, returning up to 380 miles of emissions-free driving between refills, the lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure poses a significant inconvenience for owners.
In the United States, the Nexo is currently only sold in California, where there are about 63 hydrogen fuelling stations. However, these stations are often unreliable, with reports of stations being down for mechanical reasons, running out of fuel, or ceasing operations. This has led to a class-action lawsuit filed against Toyota by dozens of Californians, who claim that they were misled about the state's unreliable hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
The challenge of securing a clean, affordable, and reliable source of hydrogen supply has always been the biggest hurdle for fuel cell cars. Pure hydrogen is not found naturally on Earth, and producing it is both costly and highly energy-intensive. The high costs of developing and building a hydrogen powertrain are passed on to consumers, making fuel-cell cars more expensive than their conventional counterparts.
The short service intervals of fuel cell cars, typically around 6,000 miles or 12 months, can also be inconvenient, as it requires more frequent trips to the dealer for maintenance. Additionally, there are currently only a limited number of dealers qualified to service fuel cell vehicles, making it more difficult for owners to access the necessary services.
While Hyundai offers complimentary hydrogen fuel for the first several years or $15,000 worth of fuel for purchasers of the Nexo, the lack of refuelling infrastructure and the high costs associated with hydrogen fuel remain significant inconveniences for owners of fuel cell vehicles.
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Warranty and servicing
The Hyundai Nexo comes with a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty on the vehicle, its powertrain, and fuel cells. The lithium-ion battery that stores energy from the regenerative braking system is warrantied for eight years or 125,000 miles. However, the hydrogen fuel-cell stack does not have the same extended warranty. Hyundai also offers complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first three years of ownership.
In terms of servicing, the Nexo has short service intervals of 6,000 miles or 12 months, which is more frequent than a standard petrol or electric car. Dealers qualified to service the Nexo are currently limited, with most being located in London and only a handful in the Midlands and other areas of the UK. In the US, the Nexo is currently only sold in California due to the limited hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
The cost of hydrogen fuel can be high, with prices varying depending on the location. In the UK, hydrogen costs around £12/kg, which equates to £80 for a 400-mile tank. In the US, the Department of Energy is planning to add 50 new hydrogen stations, with five stations in the northeastern states, to improve support for fuel cell vehicles.
Overall, while the Nexo has a comprehensive warranty and servicing options, the limited availability of qualified dealers and the high cost of hydrogen fuel are factors that potential owners should consider.
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Cost of purchase
The cost of purchasing a Nexo Fuel Cell car varies depending on the model year and trim. For the 2023 model year, the base price of the Nexo is over $60,000, and it is available in two trims: Blue and Limited. The Blue trim has a starting MSRP of $60,135, while the Limited trim, which offers additional amenities and features, is priced higher. For the 2024 model year, the pricing information is not explicitly stated, but it can be assumed to be in a similar range as the 2023 model, if not slightly higher.
The Nexo Fuel Cell car is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that utilizes compressed hydrogen to power an electric motor. This technology is still relatively new to the mass market, and as a result, the availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure is limited. Currently, the Nexo is only sold in California, where there are about 63 hydrogen fueling stations.
Despite the limited infrastructure, the Nexo offers several advantages over traditional electric vehicles (EVs). One of its main selling points is the quick refuelling time, taking around five minutes to refill, which is comparable to refuelling a car with gasoline or diesel. This makes the Nexo a compelling alternative to conventional EVs, offering zero-emissions driving with a range of up to 380 miles on a full tank of hydrogen fuel.
In terms of performance, the Nexo delivers 161 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque. While it may not be as "punchy" as some electric cars, it provides a smooth and comfortable ride with electrically assisted steering. The interior of the Nexo is airy and spacious, offering room for five passengers and 30 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat.
When purchasing a Nexo, it's important to consider the additional costs beyond the initial price. Hydrogen fuel costs around £12/kg, which equates to approximately £80 for a full tank that provides 400 miles of range. This makes it more expensive per mile than an efficient diesel car. Additionally, the short service intervals of 6,000 miles or 12 months, and the limited number of qualified dealers for servicing, can impact the overall cost of ownership.
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Running costs
One of the main running costs for any car is fuel, and the Nexo is no different. The Nexo's fuel economy is estimated to be around 53 miles per gallon (mpg) or 61 MPGe (65 city/58 highway) for the Blue model and 57 MPGe (59 city/54 highway) for the Limited model. This is comparable to, or perhaps slightly better than, the fuel economy of conventional gasoline-powered compact crossovers. However, hydrogen fuel currently costs around £12 per kg, which works out at around £80 for a full tank that will last about 400 miles. This is more expensive than diesel fuel on a per-mile basis. In the US, hydrogen fuel costs have been reported to be as high as $17.49 per kg, although the federal government's official vehicle fuel efficiency pages give a much lower figure of $5.55 per kg.
Another important running cost to consider is maintenance. The Nexo has short service intervals of 6,000 miles or 12 months, which is more frequent than for a standard petrol or electric car. This is compounded by the fact that dealers qualified to service the Nexo are currently few and far between, at least in the UK and the US. However, Hyundai offers a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty on all of its cars, including the Nexo, and the company now offers complimentary scheduled maintenance.
It is also worth noting that the Nexo comes with some additional features that may help to offset the running costs. For example, Hyundai offers complimentary hydrogen fuel for the first three years of ownership, up to a value of $13,000 or $15,000, depending on the source. The Blue Link app, which offers remote engine starting, a remote car finder, and a hydrogen fuel station locator, is also complimentary for the first three years.
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Frequently asked questions
The maintenance cost of a Nexo fuel cell car is dependent on several factors, including the cost of hydrogen fuel and the availability of qualified dealers. Hydrogen fuel currently costs around $17.49 per kg, which equates to approximately $80 for a 400-mile tank. This makes it more expensive than an efficient diesel car on a per-mile basis. Additionally, the short service intervals of 6,000 miles or 12 months and the limited number of qualified dealers may impact the overall maintenance cost.
Hyundai offers a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty on all its cars, including the Nexo. The powertrain, fuel cells, and lithium-ion battery are covered by this warranty. However, the hydrogen fuel-cell stack does not have the same extended warranty, which may be a concern for some buyers.
The Nexo fuel cell car offers a combined rating of 61 MPGe (65 city/58 highway) for the Blue model and 57 MPGe (59 city/54 highway) for the Limited model. In terms of range, the Nexo Blue can travel up to 380 miles on a full tank of hydrogen fuel, while the Limited model offers a slightly lower range of 354 miles.
Yes, Hyundai offers incentives to make the Nexo more appealing. They provide complimentary hydrogen fuel for the first three years or $13,000 to $15,000 worth of fuel, whichever comes first. Additionally, up to $4,500 in California state rebate money is available, and Hyundai frequently offers discounts.
