A number of Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles have been provided to German car sharing service BeeZero, to be launched in Munich this summer.

BeeZero, run by gas specialist The Linde Group, will operate 50 Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell electric vehicles for public use.

“The new BeeZero car sharing offer is pioneering sustainable mobility,” said Thomas A. Schmid, chief operating officer at Hyundai Motor Europe.

“Featuring the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell, BeeZero will not only be the first car sharing service using hydrogen-powered zero-emission cars, but will also offer comfortable and reliable transportation for the public’s everyday needs.”

“We expect to gain valuable information from day-to-day fleet operations which we will use to further develop our hydrogen technologies and to help expand the hydrogen infrastructure,” said Dr Christian Bruch, member of the executive board of Linde AG.

“BeeZero synergises two mobility trends that are gaining a lot of ground at the moment - car sharing and zero emissions - and will bring the benefits of fuel cell technology to a wider group of potential users.”

The BeeZero car sharing service will be run on a zone-based model. The fleet will be available in Munich’s city centre and also in the areas of Schwabing, Haidhausen, Au and Glockenbachviertel. As with conventional car sharing services, the cars can be easily booked online or via a smartphone app.

The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell can travel about 600 kilometres on a single tank, making it ideal for longer journeys, and not just for short trips in the city. Hydrogen fuel for BeeZero is sourced from sustainable production processes, making it completely carbon neutral.

“With our ix35 Fuel Cell electric vehicle and several hybrid and plug-in hybrid models sold around the world, Hyundai Motor has already pioneered electric powertrains,” added Schmid.

“Now, with the launch of the IONIQ, we take the lead as the only car brand with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric as well as fuel cell vehicles in production, making low- to zero-emission cars accessible to everyone.”