2023 Hyundai Nexo Performance

而hydrogen powertrains are as advanced as they come, they still have a long way to go before offering the kind of thrills associated with gas-type and traditional electric powertrains. The Nexo isn't fun or lively at all; independent tests have shown that it takes a leisurely 8.4 seconds to get from 0-60 mph. It has a maximum speed of 111 mph.

Since it's still primarily an EV, it retains that initial burst of acceleration thanks to low-down torque, so it feels strong enough around town to grab the occasional gap in traffic. The power diminishes rapidly at around 80 mph. To get that last 31 mph out of it, you'd have to be patient and on the Salt Flats at Bonneville.

It feels unfair to judge this car on performance alone; it must be applauded for being one of only two fuel cell cars for sale in the US. That alone makes it interesting, not to mention the mechanics of how it works. Any real car nerd should appreciate the engineering that goes into a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

Hyundai invested a lot of money in this car, and the Nexo SUV is currently the flagship of its environmentally friendly lineup. It takes the best parts of an electric vehicle and internal combustion and blends them to create the car of the future.

The powertrain consists of a 41.4-gallon tank that holds nearly 14 lbs of hydrogen, a 95 kW fuel-cell stack, a 40 kWh battery pack, and an electric motor. Hydrogen is fed from the tank to the fuel-cell stack, where it goes through an electrochemical process that creates electricity. The result is 161 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque. It doesn't seem that impressive, but take the battery pack and fuel cell size into account. Do the math, and you'll see this system has an efficiency of 60%. In layman's terms, the powertrain uses much more of the latent power in the hydrogen than a combustion engine does for gasoline. EVs have a higher efficiency rating than the Nexo, but, once again, consider the source of the fuel.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. Three driving modes are available; Comfort, Eco, and Eco Plus. That tells you everything you need to know about the Hyundai Nexo SUV performance-wise. The fastest setting it has is comfortable.

Excellent fuel economy is the Nexo's main selling point. Before we explore this statement further, it's worth noting that the Nexo is only sold in California's metros. This is because it's the only place with the necessary infrastructure. And by necessary, we mean the bare essentials. This will hopefully change in time as America seems committed to a more hydrogen-friendly future.

The base Nexo delivers an EPA-estimated 65/58/61 MPGe city/highway/combined, while the top-spec Limited is rated at 59/54/57 MPGe. Even more impressive is the fact that a hydrogen car requires no charging time. Like an old-school internal combustion car, you pull up next to the pump and fill it up. Then you drive it for 380 miles (354 in the Limited) and fill it up again within five minutes. Hydrogen isn't pumped into the tank like regular gas but under enormous pressure. In this case, the hydrogen is stored at 10,102.6 psi so great care is needed while refuelling to avoid any mishaps.