Hyundai wins again, with one of the Ten best engines, this time the FCEV.

• First Time a FCEV Engine is honoured in annual accolade

Hyundai Motor’s zero-emission fuel cell engine, which debuted on the ix35 Fuel Cell, has been recognised as the first engine of its kind in the annual Ward’s 10 Best Engines by WardsAuto World. The WardsAuto World editors tested and named the most sophisticated engines available on the market today.

Hyundai Motor’s ix35 Fuel Cell, the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell electric vehicle, was delivered to the first UK customers in October 2014. Elsewhere in the world, the innovative vehicle has been available in Southern California, USA, since June 2014, where the vehicle is known as Tucson, and is currently operating in about a dozen European countries.

“Hyundai engineers did a stunning job of slipping the most advanced automotive technology imaginable into a roomy family vehicle and making it all very consumer friendly,” said Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of WardsAuto World magazine.  “The powertrain is exceptionally quiet and has a range of 265 miles. Plus, it can be refueled in minutes instead of hours like a battery-electric vehicle. The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell is a great engineering achievement and a giant leap for zero-emissions vehicles.”

Hyundai’s fuel cell effectively replaces the battery pack used in an electric vehicle by generating electricity from hydrogen through an electrochemical process that does not involve hydrogen combustion, with no moving parts within the fuel cell stack. ix35 Fuel Cell maintains the day-to-day flexibility of the petrol or diesel-powered ix35 so that its driver is able to immediately enjoy the next generation of electric vehicles without range or recharge-time compromises to their lifestyle.

“Being included in the prestigious Ward’s 10 Best Engines list validates Hyundai Motor’s powertrain technology leadership as the fuel cell was the first engine of its kind to be honoured,” said Dr. Woong-Chul Yang, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor’s R&D Headquarters in Korea.  “Hyundai Motor will continue to utilise its global R&D resources to develop innovative and game-changing powertrains and technologies, to offer customers more choices when making environment-conscious decisions.”

Since the Ward’s 10 Best Engines began in 1995, Hyundai Motor has been included four times: the Tau V-8 was honoured in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and the Gamma I-4 in 2012. The award ceremony takes place at a banquet during the North American International Auto Show on January 14, in Detroit.