Los Angeles is probably best known for its brown, smog-filled skies and its permanent traffic jams. And anyone who has visited the city can attest to its residents' love of spacious new vehicles. So, it was appropriate that Hyundai chose the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show as the location to debut the Hyundai Tucson FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), a roomy SUV that generates no air pollutants.

Fuel cells, as found in the Hyundai Tucson FCEV, combine hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, which can then be used, in this case, to power an electric motor. The only byproducts are water and heat.

Hyundai's first FCEV vehicle was based on the larger Santa Fe SUV, and while that version took steps forward technologically, it came up a bit short with regard to its range and the packaging of its powertrain. Part of the problem was due to Hyundai's attempt to retrofit the existing Santa Fe with FCEV components, so much of the system ended up consuming valuable interior space.

In contrast, the Tucson FCEV was developed in tandem with the production Tucson, so engineers had more flexibility with the Tucson FCEV's design. The result is a hydrogen-based system that is mostly isolated to the engine compartment, leaving more interior room for passengers and cargo.

Electric power comes from a lithium-ion polymer battery unit, which is housed in the rear of the vehicle. Also, the hydrogen storage tank is much larger in the Tucson FCEV, which provides a 186-mile cruising range. But, what is probably most noteworthy is the fact that the Tucson FCEV will start in temperatures as low as 20 degrees below zero (Celsius), a significant accomplishment for a system that relies upon water, which freezes at zero Celsius.

Aside from the big FCEV letters plastered on its flanks, this fuel-cell vehicle looks like a regular ol' Tucson. However, in an effort to keep the curb weight down (the Tucson FCEV tips the scales at 3,748 pounds) the body panels are made of aluminum. Differences between this concept and a production vehicle will also likely be obvious from behind the wheel, as the powertrain only cranks out about 100 horsepower and provides the Hyundai Tucson FCEV with a top speed of 93 mph.

Thirty Hyundai Tucson FCEV units will be tested over the next five years, as part of a grant project associated with the U.S. Department of Energy. Partners include Southern California Edison, the University of California at Davis, and others. The goal of the project is to investigate the use, practicality and safety of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

If the Tucson FCEV is successful, future Hyundais could help make L.A.'s skies cleaner and greener, erasing one negative of gridlocked traffic.

By Thom Blackett