23.04.2021 Press release

Podcast ep.5 | On the road to a hydrogen ecosystem

  • Hyundai Motor has released the fifth episode of its podcast, Are We There Yet?
  • This is the first episode to feature an external guest: Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Secretary General at Hydrogen Europe
  • Chatzimarkakis joins Mark Freymüller, CEO of Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, in a discussion about the history of hydrogen fuel cells in the automotive industry and HHM’s strategy to bring hydrogen-powered trucks to the road
  • Listen and subscribe to the podcast here

Press material

Hyundai Motor has released the fifth episode of Are We There Yet?, its bi-weekly podcast hosted by motorsport and technology presenter Suzi Perry. In “On the road to a hydrogen ecosystem”, Perry invites Mark Freymüller, CEO of Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, and Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Secretary General at Hydrogen Europe, to enlighten listeners about fuel cell technology.

Host Suzi Perry

During the fifth episode, Freymüller and Chatzimarkakis explain how hydrogen technology powers vehicles, why they don’t see hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicles as competing technologies, as well as what role hydrogen will play in the future of mobility.

The ultimate goal is to really have zero emissions, completely CO2-free transportation. And that's not only done by us: Every other [manufacturer] must switch to zero-emission transport as well – could be battery, could be fuel cell.

Mark Freymüller CEO of Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Secretary General at Hydrogen Europe, explains why he believes fuel cell and battery electric technologies are not in direct competition with one another:

One hundred kilometres in a truck needs a one-tonne battery; 200 kilometres, two-tonne battery; 300, three-tonne. Then, if you compare it with hydrogen: 100 kilometres, seven kilos of hydrogen; 200, 14 kilos; and so on. Weight plays a big role here because weight contributes to more energy consumption. So, it does not make sense to use batteries in trucks. It makes sense to use batteries for up to 40 kWh, so mainly in urban environments and regional environments, where you don't [travel] more than 300 kilometres per day.

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis Secretary General at Hydrogen Europe

Freymüller additionally talks about Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility’s business case to bring fuel cell technology to Switzerland, starting with commercial shipping. He explains the chicken-egg dilemma that has been holding back the wider adoption of fuel cell technology, as well as HHM’s strategy to solve it; why Switzerland was selected for the market launch; and who Hyundai is partnering with to make fuel cell-based transport possible in Europe.

Subscribe to Hyundai Motor’s podcast, Are We There Yet?, and listen to Episode Five now to learn more about the role fuel cell technology will play in the future.

The fifth episode of Are We There Yet? is now live and available to listeners on Spotify, Apple, Google, Podcasts, Stitcher, Acast and other podcast streaming platforms. It is produced by Fresh Air Production.

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