Ineos to invest in hydrogen, partner with Hyundai

Ineos is set to utilise Hyundai's expertise with hydrogen fuel-cell powertrains to underpin a zero-emissions Grenadier 4x4.

While Ineos has experience with hydrogen and vehicle production through its new Grenadier off-roader, the manufacturer hasn't yet combined the two – enter Hyundai, which already has started to roll out its own such model, the Nexo.

Having signed an agreement with the Korean manufacturer in 2020, Ineos will utilise Hyundai's hydrogen fuel-cell technology to develop zero-emissions cars for the future – starting with the Grenadier Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Concept.

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One of the largest chemical companies in the world, Ineos currently produces and uses 400,000 tonnes of low carbon hydrogen annually, and has recently invested €2 billion (AU$3.13bn) in green hydrogen.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder and CEO of the UK-based company, said utilising the lightest element to power vehicles will be the ideal way to reach zero carbon emissions.

“We believe hydrogen is the fuel of the future and Ineos is determined to take a leading role in its development," said Ratcliffe.

"When used in a fuel-cell, hydrogen only produces water and is the UK’s best chance of reaching its carbon reduction targets”.

“The issue is that industry can only do so much, and the UK Government must start to invest in the development of our hydrogen infrastructure to allow the gas to be much more widely used. At the moment, we are massively lagging behind Europe and the gap is starting to grow”.

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Currently in the midst of tightening emissions regulations, the United Kingdom will be one of the first jurisdictions in the world to ban the production of internal combustion engine vehicles, phasing out fossil-fuelled vehicles from 2030.

The current production-spec Grenadier is available with either a BMW-sourced inline six-cylinder turbocharged petrol or diesel engine, slated to launch in Australia next year from $84,500 before on-road costs.