As gasoline prices continue to increase further the interest in alternate fuel vehicles. This summer looks set to be the most expensive ever in most countries to fill up a traditional gas tank while simultaneously the demand for electric and hybrid vehicles is generally outstripping supply. As I’ve written before one of the consistent arguments against electric vehicles to date has been the lack of range offered by most options currently on the market, at least at the more affordable end of the market. There is very good news however coming from Hyundai Motor Company that could signal a major change to help overcome this not insignificant obstacle. I’m still trying to find official word on just how soon these vehicles might be ready for the commercial market.

To date most electric vehicles have offered a range per charge in the vicinity of 110-130 miles (177-209km ) which doesn’t fare well when compared with a normal gasoline powered sedan. The new Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) from Hyundai have just completed road tests which provided results of 211 miles (340 km) from a single charge. Still not quite on par with a 2.0 liter sedan powered by gas but almost double where the reluctantly accepted industry norm resides. For commuters it takes an electric vehicle away from the range of inconvenient to being far more practical. You could have a 15 mile each way commute starting with a fully charged car on Monday morning and still have battery power to burn on the way home Friday night. While this doesn’t resolve the issue with long range city to city journeys it does begin to level the playing field. Even a fuel efficient gasoline powered car needs to fill up from time to time with a long highway journey (typically after completing 275-375 miles).

Hyundai are offering two of their prototype 1x35FCEV electric vehicles for test conditions throughout northern Europe this summer as part of a campaign designed to make major inroads in the European market for electric vehicles, seen by automakers as the most responsive to the new technology. A season of public events has been booked to help market the vehicle and show consumers that the forthcoming electric vehicles are not only eco-friendly but also competitive.

Adding range to electric vehicles could make Hyundai a market leader in the field

The Hyundai ix35 FCEV only emits water vapour and offers very comparable stats to a similarly sized vehicle with an internal combustion engine. In addition to the great improvement in vehicle range it offers a maximum speed of 99 mph / 160 km/h and reasonable zero-to-60mph acceleration time of 12.6 seconds.

Final specifications, pricing and release schedule are still to follow but this should provide confidence that the issue of vehicle range for electric cars can and will be addressed.