Naturally, with just a fledgling network of fuel stations providing hydrogen, owners still have to plan ahead for refuelling but, with a claimed range of nearly 370 miles, the technology makes a lot more sense for the company car driver than other green options such as electric vehicles.
Mulling over that thought as I crawled through the back lanes skirting the Inns of Court, the prospect of whether urban company cars of the future will be electric or hydrogen must very much depend on which one gets the infrastructure in place.
Early adopters are always the ones to bear the biggest costs and the ix35 Fuel Cell comes with a whopping price tag of £53,105 and would only attract small businesses with a green axe to grind.
But, for the moment, Hyundai are rightly proud of getting the first commercially available hydrogen fuel cell on UK roads.
Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai Motor UK’s president and CEO said: “Ten years ago our products were purchased purely for price and reliability.
“Today Hyundais are also bought because of the technology and comfort that they offer – but the number one reason for purchase is actually because of how the vehicles now look.
“A Streetcar Named Hyundai is another ‘first’ from us that marks our journey from 2005.”
The 50-day drive in the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell, mapped out in conjunction with Ordnance Survey, will be completed by 19 November 2015.
