Hyundai Motor Company uses zero-emission ix35 Fuel Cell to grow food
Hyundai Motor has unveiled a world-first – a unique piece of design theatre that aims to educate people about the real-life benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Deputy mayor of London, Kit Malthouse, showed his support for the project by opening the Hyundai Fuel Cell Farm – the world’s first aquaponics ecosystem powered by Hyundai Motor’s zero-emission ix35 Fuel Cell – outside the front of the Design Museum in London. The Hyundai Fuel Cell Farm was open for one day only in front of the museum.
Malthouse, who is also chairman of the London Hydrogen Partnership, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome Hyundai’s Fuel Cell Farm to London. This installation is an imaginative way to bring alive the huge potential of hydrogen technology and I encourage people to come along to the Design Museum to learn more about what could be the most exciting new industry of the 21st century.
“We are getting London ready for this massive step forward in propulsion technology by supporting businesses to put fuel on the ground, and consumers to buy zero emission vehicles. London has been at the forefront of mobility advances through the centuries and that’s where we want to stay.”
Aquaponics is a sustainable farming solution; a combination of hydroponics (growing plants in water) and aquaculture (raising fish in tanks). The Fuel Cell Farm operates by taking the water emitted by the hydrogen-powered Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell and filtering this water into the fish tank. The aquaponics technology then harnesses minerals from the fish waste to grow the plants on the farm.
Essentially the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell, which is the world’s first production fuel cell vehicle, is the heartbeat to the lifecycle of the installation. It powers and facilitates the functionality of the aquaponics farm, using clean emissions (only water) to fuel sustainable agriculture.
To design and create the installation, Hyundai Motor UK collaborated with highly acclaimed sustainability creatives, Something & Son. This design practice is rooted in a long history of British inquisitiveness and experimentation, applied to the creation of a more sustainable world.
The unveiling of Hyundai’s Fuel Cell Farm was followed by a lunchtime lecture about the benefits of Fuel Cell technology. This was hosted by WIRED magazine and feature contributions from Hyundai experts, key parties who are working on the expansion of the hydrogen network in the UK and installation designers, Something & Son.
After the lecture, there was a Fuel Cell Farm BBQ hosted by Rosie Boycott, chair of London Food Board. Hyundai has commissioned acclaimed eco-chef, Tom Hunt, to use the food that has been grown on the Fuel Cell Farm as well as other sustainably grown and sourced produce to create a one-off banquet.
As the first car company in the world to assembly line-produce fuel cell vehicles, Hyundai has accelerated London’s plans to become one of the major hydrogen capitals of the world and will soon be delivering five emission-free ix35 Fuel Cells to the Greater London Authority. These cars will operate in London and be an integral part of the London Hydrogen Network Expansion (LHNE) project.
Two hydrogen fuel stations are already open in the Capital – one of which has public access – with a third to come as part of the LHNE project.
