Five of Hyundai Australia’s Nexo mid-size SUVs have joined Queensland Police as general-duties cars, marking the first time hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have hit the beat in the Southern Hemisphere.
The five Nexos wear full Queensland Police livery and are fitted with the necessary lights and sirens, to ensure they fit in with the wider fleet, which already includes Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid SUV and Camry sedan for general duties.
Unlike the RAV4 Hybrid and Camry, though, the Nexo will allow Queensland Police to showcase fuel-cell technology to the community, with the state government’s hydrogen station in Brisbane to be responsible for refuelling with locally produced gas.
Hyundai Australia CEO Jun Heo said: “Deploying Nexo into the Queensland Police Service provides a terrific opportunity for police to experience the unique benefits of our zero-emissions hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle while showcasing the technology to the public.”
Of course, the Nexo stands out from the crowd with its FCEV powertrain, which offers a WLTP-certified driving range of 666km and can be refuelled in three to five minutes – comparable to a vehicle with a traditional internal-combustion engine.
Measuring in at 4671mm long (with a 2789mm wheelbase), 1859mm wide and 1631mm tall, the Nexo is powered by a 120kW/394Nm electric motor that helps it sprint from a standstill to 100km/h in 9.5 seconds.
This fleet deal takes the total number of Nexos in Australia to 28, with Hyundai Australia operating three, while 20 were delivered to the ACT government last March, as part of its Hornsdale Wind Farm Stage 3 project.
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