2024 Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cell Review

The Nexo is one of the original hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. It has been on the market for awhile. You may see the abbreviation FCEV which means fuel cell electric vehicles.

So how is it that a Nexo is an electric vehicle and a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle? It’s probably simpler than most people think. A Nexo has electric motors like any other electric vehicle.

What’s different is that it has a fuel cell stack instead of an electric-hybrid battery. It stores its power in that fuel cell stack. The power source is, of course, hydrogen.

Like traditional gasoline or diesel, the hydrogen needs oxygen. It is released gradually and mixes with oxygen, causing a chemical reaction. That reaction sparks the engine and releases only water when it’s done.

The Nexo is limited to California at the moment. This is due to the lack of hydrogen fueling stations in Arizona and elsewhere in the US. However, when a fueling station is available, the Nexo takes about as much time as a regular gas engine.

You only need about five minutes to fuel the Nexo. This is a real plus compared to some electric vehicles that may take half an hour or more at a fast charger.

Furthermore, it doesn’t need to be charged overnight. So you just fuel and go in the Nexo as if it were a gas-powered car.

The Nexo driving range is 380 miles. That’s a reasonable amount of miles between visits to the filling station. It is better than typical electric cars that average between 220 and 320 miles in range.

The Tuscon plug-in hybrid has an electric driving range and a gas-hybrid powertrain. It can’t claim the 100 percent green credentials of the Nexo, but it is much greener than a regular gas SUV.

Tucson PHEV models can go up to 33 miles on their electric charge. When using the hybrid engine, it can go about 80 miles per gallon-equivalent.

The Hyundai Kona EV has a driving range of up to 258 miles. It is 100 percent electric and has no emissions. The cabin is similar to the Nexo, but the Nexo has a slightly bigger cargo hold.

The Nexo package compares favorably to the Tucson PHEV or the Kona EV. Shoppers can expect high quality leather-like fabric, 8-way power chairs, and dual screens. The 10.25 inch driver information center is a good match to the 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Nexo Limited has power-ventilated front seats and a panoramic sunroof. It has roof rails, a power-lift tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, and a heated steering wheel.

There’s plenty of driver assistance. This includes everything from an emergency autobrake with forward collision watch to adaptive cruise control and remote parking capability.

Schedule a test drive of one of the Hyundai green machines. Our staff can help you find the best EV, PHEV or HEV in the Hyundai lineup.