MOBIS has completed the development of core parts for FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) and has recently started to mass-produce them for the first time in the world.

The core parts produced at MOBIS’s Chungju Factory are driving motors, power electronic parts, lithium battery packages and power module completes, all of which are to be installed in the Tucson ix, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle model manufactured by Hyundai Motors.

These parts will play an essential part in the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, which can generate electricity using the stored hydrogen, compared to electronic vehicles which use electric energy that’s been charged up. MOBIS’s parts are to supply the hydrogen fuel used to generate electricity from the power module completes, which in turn drives the motor to get the vehicle to move while the power electronic parts supply power to the electronic parts and store the rest in a battery.

The production of the core parts for the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is the fruit of MOBIS’s eco-friendly vehicle technology and quality. MOBIS has built up technical as well as quality knowhow through developing the core parts for both hybrid and electric vehicles, including driving motors, power electronic parts and battery packages. The mass-production of the core parts for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is especially significant as it took only five years after commencing the development of eco-friendly vehicle technology and no other company has succeeded yet. 

To take a close look at the core parts originally developed by MOBIS, a 1000kW-level high-capacity, high-speed motor produces 134 horsepower and can reach a top speed of 160km/h. The motor has been improved greatly over the 41-horsepower motor installed in the traditional hybrid car, and it boosts of performance that’s next only to the general midsize gasoline engine (the 2013 Elantra/Avante featuring 1.6 GDI with the maximum 140-hp) Plus, it has secured price competitiveness through using a high-priced rare earth permanent magnet that has been a huge issue around the world, triggering quite a war over the scarce resources. 

Power electronic parts not only control the driving power of the motor, but ensure stable power management in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, in which electronic parts account for twice the amount they do in ordinary vehicles or hybrid cars. Low Voltage DC-DC Power, one of the power electronic parts, delivers a 4kW-level power that is a great improvement over the 1.7-kW power used in hybrid cars. It also converts the 240~450V high voltage generated by the fuel cell into the 14V that’s best suited for the vehicle. 

In addition, the power module complete developed by Hyundai Motors and produced by MOBIS is the core part that generates up to 100kW power by producing a chemical reaction with the supplied hydrogen and air and also provides the power source to hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (100kW is the amount of electric energy that can simultaneously turn on 2,500 units of general 40W fluorescent lights). 

MOBIS developed its fuel processing system independently and applied this to its power module complete. The Fuel Processing System uses hydrogen to 100% by supplying 1,200L hydrogen per minute and recycling the hydrogen that did not undergo a chemical reaction in the electricity generation system. 

“MOBIS has succeeded in developing and mass-producing the core parts for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for the first time in the world, and this has been made possible through the accumulated technical knowhow and close R&D cooperation with Hyundai Motors. Our mass-production of the core parts is attracting global attention, particularly given that even the world’s leading auto manufacturers have not succeeded in mass-producing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles”, said Vice President and Head of MOBIS R&D Center, Lee Bonghwan. “We will improve our performance and raise our price competitiveness through continuing to invest in order to lead the global eco-friendly vehicle parts market". 

Meanwhile, Tucson ix, the world’s first hydrogen fuel vehicle to be mass produced using MOBIS’s core parts, has been selected for the pilot project of the supply of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for 4 countries in Northern European. It will also be used as an official vehicle by Copenhagen, the capital Denmark. Named No.1 at the “2013 Future Auto Awards” - a motor show held in Brussels, Belgium, in January - the Tucson ix is expected to result in a sensation in the eco-friendly vehicle market, having been recognized for its technological ingenuity and commercial value.