Despite little local support, slow sales, Hyundai sees future in hydrogen fuel cell cars

Hyundai Motor Co. says hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are the future for eco-friendly cars despite challenges of limited infrastructure and slow sales.

South Korea's largest automaker sold or leased about 250 of its Tucson Fuel Cell vehicles since beginning production in 2013, lower than its 1,000 target, mostly in Europe and California.

Senior engineer Kim Sae Hoon said fuel cell cars represent a bigger opportunity than electric cars because competition is less fierce and because of design flexibility. They can be refueled quickly and travel further than electric vehicles, emitting no greenhouse gases.

High prices and the dearth of fueling stations are barriers. Hyundai says it will be another 10 years before hydrogen cars start gaining wider acceptance.

Hyundai recently slashed the Tucson Fuel Cell's price to boost sales.