The high repair costs and uncertain life span of fuel cells pose a high risk to users like Till Vestberg – Photo: AutoBild
People using newer technologies tend to pay more than usual when repairs are needed. However, Hyundai Tucson Hydro Edition owners weren’t ready when they felt surprised at the garage’s bid.
Til Westberg, a businessman from Bad Homburg, Germany, spent 50,200 euros (1.3 billion dong) on a 2026 FCEV Hyundai Tucson. This car was purchased to replace the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid.
In the first 7 years of use, the compact SUV with the hydrogen fuel cell experienced no problems after 84,000 km.
Although he was forced to drive as far as 114 km to refill his hydrogen tank due to a lack of refueling stations, Westberg was pleased with the fast acceleration, smooth ride and range of 450–500 km.
However, after 7 years, the Hyundai Tucson suddenly stopped working, causing an error message to be displayed on the screen whenever the owner tried to start the car.
Autobild quoted Germany’s fuel cell specialist GS.TS Birgit Schapt as saying that development was too rapid, which caused the product to become obsolete quickly. Therefore, GS believes companies should be prepared to buy back the car if the powertrain fails, as Toyota is implementing on the Mirai – Photo: AutoBild
When bringing the car in for repairs, he received a price quote: 103,764.17 Euros, equivalent to 113,885 USD. This amount is more than the purchase price of a new car (if it is still in production), and comparable to that of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or high-end Porsche Taycan in the US market. And yet, this battery will not be covered under warranty.
This high repair cost is due to the battery. The basic fuel cell price is 84,875 euros excluding tax. Also, the Hyundai Tucson FCEV is a rare variant with expensive technology and is no longer produced. That’s why there are very few spare parts.
Certainly no one will pay more for a 7 year old car with serious problems than a new car. Westberg was not satisfied, so he wanted the company to take the car back.
according to the magazine autobuild The automaker, a well-known German automaker, admits that repairs do not make economic sense, and is trying to find alternatives for customers.
Currently, the Hyundai Tucson FCEV has been replaced by the Nexo. The Nexo’s fuel cell costs around 41,650 euros with a 10-year warranty.
Compared to electric battery cars, fuel cell vehicles are still at a very early stage.
The only other fuel cell vehicle currently on the market is the Toyota Mirai. The Honda Clarity has also been discontinued. The BMW FCEV won’t appear until 2030.
Toyota has promised that the new generation FCEV will feature a new powertrain by 2026, which will be 50% cheaper than the current system.
(tags to translate) hyundai tucson
