The alternative energy future is still an open ended question, and automakers continue to offer up their version of the answer.
This time around it is Hyundai, and their answer is a hydrogen-powered concept known as the Blue2 (read: Blue square), which was revealed today at the Seoul Motor Show in the automaker’s domestic market of South Korea. For those of you that follow Hyundai, you may recognize the use of “Blue,” borrowed from Hyundai’s Blue Drive technology, which was then combined with H2 (hydrogen) to form the vehicle’s name.
Although the spec sheet for a hydrogen-powered car doesn’t read quite like its gas-powered counterparts, one will find a correlation to another type of alternative energy driven vehicle: the electric car. For instance, the Blue2 features a hydrogen fuel stack that cranks out 90kW – or 1.65kW per liter – and a fuel economy rating of 34.9 kilometers per liter, or roughly 82 miles per gallon.
Similarities to hybrids and electric vehicles continue with the use of low rolling resistance tires and special light-weight alloy wheels with a closed front design, intended to improve aerodynamic performance and reduce the energy input required to turn the wheels.
Other less eco-minded features include automatically opening doors, asymmetric instrument cluster and dashboard, an information system driven by a motion sensing moustick, which is a haptic wheel that uses a motion sensor to detect driver’s touch. Slightly eco-minded, and slightly cosmetically minded are side mirrors that are replaced by cameras, as well as the use of special ultra-light tempered glass, known as Gorilla glass, which help to display graphic information from a transparent organic light emitting diode (TOLED) monitor.
Hyundai didn’t give any indication as to whether or not the Blue2 itself has production in its future, but the automaker did suggest that its design is a preview of production vehicles to come.
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