South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motors Co. revealed its next-generation fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) at the Consumer Electronics Show 2018 in Las Vegas, a platform that has become favored by automakers as their debut stage for future mobility.

Dubbed the Nexo, the company’s latest hydrogen sport utility vehicle was unveiled in Korea last August but its model name and detailed specifications were disclosed for the first time at the CES showcase on Monday.

“Nexo is our technological flagship model that is a culmination of our advanced fuel cell technologies,” said Lee Ki-sang, senior vice president of the Eco Technology Center at Hyundai Motors.

The Nexo offers a range of over 590 kilometers on a five-minute fill-up, a 40 percent upgrade from the old Tucson FCEV, according to the company.

The carmaker has also mounted the Nexo with its latest driver assistance technologies. The vehicle can park or retrieve itself autonomously with the Remote Smart Parking Assistant and aid the driver when changing lanes by displaying a view of blind spots via wide-angle cameras. The Highway Driving Assistant and Lane Following Assistant help keep the car centered in its lane in the city and on the highway.

Nexo is the name of a Danish island and is derived from an Old Norse word for ‘water spirit’ and a Latin word meaning ‘combination’ to highlight its clean fuel cell technology that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and water, the company explained.

The latest release is part of the automaker’s ambitious initiative to triple the number of its green car lineup to 38 by 2025. Last month, it announced plans to expand its EV fleet to 14 from the current two by 2025 and spur the commercialization of hydrogen cars. It said it will maintain a well-rounded portfolio of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles to respond rapidly to market demand.

By Kim Jung-hwan and Kim Hyo-jin

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