Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled the Initium, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept that previews the company’s upcoming production model slated for release in the first half of 2025.
The Initium, whose name derives from the Latin word for ‘beginning’, represents Hyundai’s latest step in hydrogen vehicle development. The SUV concept showcases the company’s new design language, dubbed Art of Steel, and highlights Hyundai’s commitment to hydrogen technology.
The concept vehicle focuses on three key areas: driving range, interior space, and safety. Equipped with large hydrogen fuel tanks and aerodynamic wheels with low rolling resistance tires, the Initium aims to achieve a driving range of more than 650 kilometers between refueling. The electric motor can produce up to 150 kW, providing smooth acceleration and highway performance.
“Our challenge began from the manufacturing stage,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President of Hyundai Global Design, “Where we pushed the formability of steel to the extreme to create a form of art.”
The Initium features several innovative technologies, including an FCEV-specific route planner that helps drivers locate and assess hydrogen charging stations. The vehicle also includes a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature, allowing it to power household appliances and personal devices directly from the car.
Safety has been a priority in the Initium’s development. The concept includes a multi-skeleton structure, side body reinforcement, and nine airbags to ensure high collision safety performance.
The vehicle is part of Hyundai’s broader hydrogen strategy, which includes the HTWO hydrogen value chain business brand launched earlier this year. The brand will showcase the Initium at the Los Angeles Auto Show and Auto Guangzhou in November. The concept builds on the company’s 27-year history of hydrogen vehicle development, during which it became the world’s first automaker to mass-produce hydrogen FCEVs.
The production version of the Initium is expected to debut in the first half of 2025, marking another milestone in Hyundai’s hydrogen mobility journey.
