Hyundai has celebrated several milestones for its Tucson Fuel Cell, however the hydrogen-powered crossover has reportedly fallen short of its modest sales goals.
The automaker has sold only 273 units through late May, including just 29 at home and 116 and 117 in the US and Europe, respectively, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The numbers suggest Hyundai will need to inspire a significant increase in sales to hit its goal of 1,000 units by the end of the year. Of the 273 sales through May, just 69 units were purchased in 2015 and 128 vehicles were delivered in 2014.
In an announcement claiming the California fleet of Tucson FCVs has accumulated more than 477,800 miles — enough to reach the moon and back — the company noted just 70 US deliveries in the first year of availability.
“If a small fleet of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles can accumulate this kind of mileage in just a few short months, one can only imagine the potential for a zero-emissions hydrogen vehicle future,” the company said in a statement. “It took the growing Tucson Fuel Cell owner fleet about 240 days to reach the moon, but only half that for the return trip.”
US buyers are limited to leasing the Tucson FCV for $499 per month with $2,999 down. Hydrogen refills are free for the length of the agreement, however refueling stations are still limited. A Department of Energy report counts just 12 stations in the entire US, including 10 in California.
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