Can a hydrogen-powered SUV actually clean the air while you drive it?

History · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Hyundai's Nexo represents a bold bet on hydrogen fuel cell technology, promising long-range electric driving with zero tailpipe emissions. Beyond its powertrain, the vehicle features an advanced air filtration system designed to scrub fine particulate matter from the atmosphere, though critics have raised questions about the reality of its environmental claims.

Unveiled at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, the Nexo serves as the flagship for Hyundai's eco-conscious vehicle lineup. It functions by reacting hydrogen gas from pressurized tanks with atmospheric oxygen, generating electricity and water as the only byproduct. This setup provides a significant performance boost over its predecessor, the Tucson FCEV, offering up to 611 kilometers of range and a more powerful 163 PS electric motor.

The vehicle is packed with sophisticated driver-assistance technology, including lane-following capabilities, highway speed adjustment, and a remote parking assistant. It also introduced a blind-spot monitor that uses surround-view cameras to display the car's sides and rear. In 2018, the model earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, and it has since become a platform for testing new hydrogen infrastructure, such as a 2018 trial where researchers successfully refueled the car using hydrogen extracted from ammonia.

Despite its technological ambitions, the Nexo has faced scrutiny. Hyundai marketed an air purification system capable of removing all PM2.5 particulate matter from the air. However, the British Advertising Standards Authority found this claim misleading because the vehicle still generates pollutants through brake and tire wear. Critics labeled the marketing as greenwashing, highlighting the tension between corporate sustainability claims and the realities of automotive manufacturing. As of 2025, the brand continues to evolve this technology, having recently unveiled the production version of its second-generation successor.

The Nexo's rollout has been gradual and targeted. After its initial release in South Korea in March 2018, it reached California by the end of that year and the UK in 2019. By March 2021, it arrived in Australia as a special-order lease, marking the first time a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle was made available for purchase in that market. Sales in South Korea surpassed 10,000 units by October 2020, reflecting a steady, if niche, adoption of hydrogen-based personal transport.

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