Renewable hydrogen in Brazil: Hyundai and USP begin testing on pioneering project

Brazil is taking a significant step towards sustainable mobility with the start of testing of the Hyundai NEXO powered by renewable hydrogen. The SUV will begin operating at the Capital-Butantã campus of the University of São Paulo (USP), where the world’s first hydrogen fueling station from ethanol is installed . This milestone is the result of a project by the Center for Research and Innovation in Greenhouse Gases (RCGI) at USP, with the aim of evaluating the viability of the technology for passenger vehicles, expanding the possibilities of the Brazilian energy matrix.

Technological Innovation and Sustainable Mobility

The SUV is yet another example of the automotive industry's progress towards a future free of polluting emissions. The model uses fuel cells that combine hydrogen stored in high-pressure tanks with oxygen from the air to generate electricity, powering the electric motor . The process results in only the emission of water vapor, making it an efficient solution for reducing the carbon footprint.

With 163 hp of power and a range of over 660 km , according to the European WLTP cycle, the NEXO combines performance and sustainability. Refueling time is one of its biggest advantages, taking just five minutes to fill the tanks, a time equivalent to that of a conventional combustion vehicle.

Hydrogen and Ethanol: Brazil's role in the energy transition

Brazil is emerging as a leader in the production of renewable hydrogen, taking advantage of its vast ethanol infrastructure . Steam reforming of ethanol allows for the production of hydrogen efficiently and in a way that is compatible with a low-carbon economy. Combined with carbon capture and storage (CCUS), this technology has the potential to make Brazilian hydrogen carbon neutral or even negative, considering the CO2 absorption by sugarcane.

The initiative by USP and Hyundai in Brazil places the country at the forefront of research and development of alternative fuels , contributing to the global transition towards a greener and more efficient economy. With this partnership, Brazil reinforces its leading role in the race for renewable hydrogen, boosting the automotive sector and paving the way for a new model of sustainable mobility.

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