Hyundai Motor Rolls Out NEXO FCEV with Enhanced Technology

Hyundai is targeting more than 700 km of range from a five-minute charge, while safety has been a clear focus of the NEXO’s development.

April 03, 2025. By Aishwarya

Hyundai Motor Company has launched the all-new NEXO fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), a cutting-edge mid-size SUV, at its global launch event at the Seoul Mobility Show in Korea. The launch marks a significant milestone in hydrogen mobility.

The all-new NEXO offers flexibility, efficiency and safety, making it an exciting choice for early FCEV adopters. With its advanced fuel cell technology, NEXO emits zero tailpipe emissions.

Hyundai is targeting more than 700 km of range from a five-minute charge, while safety has been a clear focus of the NEXO’s development. Hyundai is targeting top-tier safety ratings thanks to the NEXO’s comprehensive safety features, ensuring peace of mind for drivers and passengers.

The second-generation NEXO reflects Hyundai Motor’s leadership in hydrogen mobility and 27 years of fuel cell technology experience. This new model also underscores the company’s commitment to a diversified vehicle electrification strategy, which includes not only battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids, but also FCEVs, offering wider consumer choice.

Based on the INITIUM concept unveiled in October 2024, the all-new NEXO embodies Hyundai Motor’s new ‘Art of Steel’ design language, reflecting the inherent strength and natural formability of the material. With the NEXO’s design, the resilience and versatility of steel deliver tension and strength, with the resulting shapes a form of art.

NEXO showcases a sturdy and sophisticated design, with bold lines and a solid structure that create a rugged image, while the vehicle’s arch-shaped cross section reinforces its strength. NEXO’s horizontal groove patterns on the doors emphasize the vehicle’s durability, with the overall design suiting both urban and outdoor lifestyles.

The vehicle’s exterior is defined by its ‘HTWO’ Lamps, creating a distinctive FCEV-specific design cue that blends boldness with refinement, neatly encapsulating Hyundai Motor Group’s HTWO hydrogen brand and its ‘Hydrogen for Humanity’ message. The 4 Dot Lamps also ensure the all-new NEXO is recognizable as a Hyundai at night.

The new-generation NEXO will be available in six colors: Creamy White Pearl, Phantom Black Pearl, Amazon Gray Metallic, Ocean Indigo Matte, Ecotronic Gray Pearl, and Goyo Copper Pearl. This latter color was inspired by Korea’s nature and culture, embodying the essence of ‘Koreanism’.

Named after the Korean word ‘Goyo’, which means ‘serene’ or ‘tranquil’, this color captures a unique charm that blends Korea’s traditional beauty with a modern aesthetic through its deep and rich tone. NEXO uses a three-coat paint process, creating a multidimensional effect where the body color shifts depending on the angle of the light and the surrounding environment, enhancing the vehicle’s distinctive presence.

The all-new NEXO boasts significant powertrain advancements. These advancements are centered around the fuel cell (FC) and power electronics (PE) systems, which have been enhanced to improve power output and performance.

A new motor system complements these enhancements, increasing the PE system’s power output and battery capacity. As a result, the total output has been elevated from 135 kW to 190 kW, while the battery’s output has doubled from 40 kW to 80 kW. These improvements contribute to a faster 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 7.8 seconds) compared with 9.2 seconds for the previous NEXO, ensuring excellent acceleration and smooth overtaking capability.

The hydrogen fuel cell stack now delivers maximum gross power of 110 kW, a 16 percent increase, while the new electric motor provides up to 150 kW. The FC stack also features improved low-temperature operability and durability enhancements, including to the membrane, and a uniform cell performance structure. The ‘Wake Up’ stack anti-freezing function and other system optimizations enhance low-temperature drivability and ease of starting year-round.

NEXO features a digital center mirror (DCM) that enhances rear visibility by utilizing a camera-monitor system, offering a wider field of view, as well as improved seat coverage and night visibility compared with traditional optical mirrors. This system ensures better rear visibility. To maintain this, the DCM includes a cleaning system that sprays washer fluid directly on to the camera.

Tags:

Sustainable Transport

Hyundai Motor Group

NEXO FCEV

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicle models

Electric vehicle infrastructure

Electric Vehicle components

Electric vehicle adoption

Electric SUV

Electric personal mobility