The first delivery of Tucson FCEV at the Vancouver port. (CNW Group/Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.)

VANCOUVER — Hyundai is finally delivering on its promise. The automaker has announced that its goal of making hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles available to the Canadian public is finally coming to fruition.

Hyundai Auto Canada announced that it has received its first shipment of Tucson Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). Sailing from South Korea on the Kaijin cargo ship, the vehicles have been unloaded at the Vancouver port. The Hyundai Tucson FCEV will soon be delivered to Canadian customers on a 3-year lease in the Vancouver area.

In November 2014, Hyundai announced it would be the first automotive company to make hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles available to Canadians, and launched a dedicated website to find its first customer. The publics response has been immediate.

Weve seen a tremendous response to our call for applications. Canadians all over the country wrote us to express their support for the fuel cell program and submit an application, said Don Romano, President and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. The numbers far exceeded our expectations, and it shows there is a definite market for fuel cell vehicles in this country. Our ambition is to lead the way in the zero emissions space.

The Hyundai Tucson FCEV takes less than 5 minutes to refuel and has an estimated range of 426 kilometres; both are comparable to the companys existing gasoline-powered Tucson and eliminate the range anxiety or recharge-time compromises of battery electric vehicles. Electricity is generated through an electrochemical process combining oxygen and hydrogen in the Tucson FCEVs fuel cell stack. This electricity powers the vehicles electric motor and charges an onboard battery. The only by-product of the process is pure water vapour, resulting in zero greenhouse-gas emissions.

SOURCE Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.