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Wide attention to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) comes from two huge issues currently the world is facing with: the concern of the petroleum reserves depletion due to consequent oil dependence and the earth global warming due in some extent to vehicle emissions. In this background, Hyundai, along with its sister company Kia, has been building the FCEVs and operating their test fleet with several tens of units at home and abroad. Since 2004, 32 passenger vehicles have been offered for the Department of Energy's controlled hydrogen fleet and infrastructure demonstration and validation project in the U.S. In the meantime, from 2006, 30 passenger vehicles as well as four buses, featuring the in-house developed fuel cell stack and its associated components, are currently under the domestic operation for the FCEV learning demonstration led by the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy.

Hyundai Motor Company has developed hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCV) based on its SUV, Santa Fe. As the hydrogen fuel cell power plant runs at near ambient pressure, parasitic loss due to its operation is fully minimized and the noise level of the air supply subsystem is extremely low. The Santa Fe FCV has been built to feature roomy passenger space and cargo capacity identical to that of a standard, gasoline-powered Santa Fe, because of its compact fuel cell power plant. In addition, lightweight aluminum body-components help to keep a power-to-weight ratio similar to that of a conventional SUV. Hyundai Motor Company, as a full member of California Fuel Cell Partnership, is now operating the Santa Fe FCV's on real roads in California. In this paper, the configuration and performance test results of the Santa Fe FCV will be described.