MARKHAM, ON– Today Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. and Modo provided an update on the success of the Hyundai NEXO in the fleet of the Vancouver-based carsharing co-operative. NEXO, Canada’s only fuel cell-powered SUV, was added to Modo’s fleet immediately after its Canadian launch in March 2019.
Since being placed into service with Modo, the two NEXO units have been booked 260 times by 196 members and driven a total of 10,328 kilometres, all 100% emissions free. The service is also seeing month-over-month increases in bookings, suggesting an increase in familiarity with Fuel Cell technology. By collaborating with Modo, the first carsharing co-operative in North America, NEXO is bringing Fuel Cell technology and education to a much wider audience than ever before.
“I am excited to see how well NEXO has done in the Modo fleet. We are demystifying the Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle, one person at a time,” says Don Romano, President and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada. “It’s important for us to make innovative green technologies readily available for Canadians, accelerating education and ensuring a sustainable future.”
NEXO is powered by hydrogen, a fully sustainable energy source, which allows the vehicle to emit clean water vapour and purify the air as it is being driven. This technology also provides the vehicle with superior range conservation in cold climates compared to other battery electric powertrains, making them particularly resilient for Canadian winters. What’s more – a five minute refill will carry you for up to 570 KM.
“As they emerge, we will experiment with as many alternative fuel types as possible,” says Selena McLachlan, Modo’s Director of Marketing. “In addition to better understanding user behaviour, we’ve learned a lot to date about the operational implications of having hybrids, full EVs and plug-ins in our fleet. NEXO’s hydrogen powertrain brings a new opportunity to add to our learnings, and gets us one step closer to an eventual zero-emissions fleet.”
Hyundai has been a consistent leader in sustainable transportation, remaining the only automaker in Canada to offer vehicles with four electrified powertrains including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell. With NEXO, Hyundai became the only automotive manufacturer in Canada to offer a second generation fuel cell vehicle – the first being the Tucson Fuel Cell which launched in 2015.
While hydrogen fueling infrastructure is still in the early stages of development, Vancouver is home to one of Canada’s only public refueling stations located in the city’s Marpole neighborhood.
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About Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.
Hyundai Auto Canada, established in 1983 and headquartered in Markham, Ontario, is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout Canada by Hyundai Auto Canada and are sold and serviced through more than 210 dealerships nationwide. Hyundai is also the first to offer a second-generation zero-emissions Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle to Canadian customers, called the NEXO. More information about Hyundai and its vehicles can be found at www.HyundaiCanada.com.
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