The folks from Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) and Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) are currently ironing out all the final details in bringing the Hyundai Nexo, the brand’s flagship hydrogen fuel cell powered crossover SUV, into the Southeast Asia market. This was announced following the sale of two units of the vehicle to Sarawak Energy Berhad aka “Sarawak Energy”.

Currently, Sarawak Energy is running a pilot hydrogen production plant and refuelling station located in Kuching and the purchased Hyundai Nexo will be the guinea pigs of the whole operation. Focusing on the future of transportation in the region using a more viable source, the hydrogen-based refuelling station will be the first of its kind dedicated for transportation in Southeast Asia.

This is the perfect task for the Hyundai Nexo to handle as its fuel cell electric powertrain offers the latest in electric vehicle technology, even more so compared to its ix35 Fuel Cell predecessor. Producing around 160hp, the Nexo’s electric motor gets its juice from a fuel cell stack that combines oxygen (from the air) and hydrogen (from the supply tank) to produce its power.

The result is electricity to power the motor and charge the battery, and water vapour, which harmlessly exits through the exhaust. With full tanks of hydrogen on board, the Hyundai Nexo can travel up to 414 miles (around 660km) before needing to refuel, which will only take a few minutes.

The demand for eco-friendly vehicles such as the electric and plug-in vehicles has grown over the last few years fuelled by government policies of various countries to reduce pollution. According to HMC, the NEXO, which was recently named ‘the game changer’ at the Auto Car Awards in the UK, has a great potential in the Southeast Asia eco car marketplace.