Huge Hyundai spend on new tech

Huge Hyundai spend on new tech

Cleaner, more eco-friendly vehicles will result from a giant new Environmental Tech Centre recently opened by Hyundai which aims to become the world leader in environmental technology.

The US$58m R&D facility in Mabuk on the southern edge of Seoul will be the new home of Hyundai’s ongoing drive into fuel cell electric vehicles, gas-electric hybrid vehicles and end-of-life vehicle recycling.

The centre itself was built using highly advanced eco processes. And this is just phase one.

Hyundai is investing heavily in next-generation green vehicles and environmental technologies with focus on development of core technologies for fuel-cell and hybrid cars and mass production of such vehicles, development of technologies for lowering gas emissions and improving fuel efficiency, enhancing vehicle recycling as well as investigation into alternative materials to ferrous metals, and development of technologies for lowering air/water pollution during the manufacturing process and for recycling waste materials resulting from energy production.

Standing on a 30,488 sq m site, the five-storey 14,233 sq m facility is home to 200 researchers and more than 400 pieces of high-tech equipment. Facilities include a 700-bar hydrogen filling station, a fuel-cell endurance tester, an emissions lab, dynamometers and other specialized equipment for testing electric propulsion systems. A pilot plant for automated vehicle dismantling focuses on improving the material recycling rate of end-of-life vehicles.

Of particular note, the 700-bar hydrogen filling station, coupled with the 350-bar station at the Group’s Namyang R&D Center, will enable fuel-cell vehicle tests within the Seoul metropolitan area and will help accelerate the commercialisation of fuel-cell electric vehicles.

The centre was contracted using environment-friendly materials and processes such as vacuum toilet systems which in using one-tenth the water of a conventional flush toilet result in 1,500 tonnes of water savings annually; heating and air conditioning systems using heat pumps; natural light systems using solar reflectors; floors made of scrapped tyres; and electric power created from actual fuel-cell tests used during technology development that will result in a 1,000-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.

“Through world-class environmental management practices, we look forward to playing a leading role in helping to solve global environmental issues,” said Group Vice Chairman Sang-Kwon Kim.

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