Hyundai’s retro-futuristic Initium is a good-looking concept SUV

Hyundai is one of several automakers working to make hydrogen-powered electric vehicles a thing, and a good first step is making sure they’re not ugly. I think the designers hit the target with the “Art of Steel” design language used in the Initium concept SUV revealed this week at an event in Korea. It seems to borrow some of the fearlessly angular and retro-inspired looks it’s teased over the years on other vehicles like the N Vision 74 concept and the Seven (which will eventually become the Ioniq 9).

According to Hyundai’s estimates, the Initium can drive more than 400 miles (650km) on a single refuel — about 30 miles further than its production Nexo fuel cell SUV. Hyundai says the Initium is a “preview” of an upcoming fuel cell EV it will reveal in the first half of next year.

Earlier this year, Hyundai claimed hydrogen vehicles will “play a prominent role” in the company’s goal of going carbon neutral by 2050. It plans to use hydrogen in cars, commercial trucks, buses, generators, and other applications. Hyundai is building it all under its “HTWO” hydrogen business brand.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the world, and vehicles that use it release water vapor instead of tailpipe emissions. However, it’s not easy to package and distribute, and its infrastructure is still in its infancy (despite development lasting decades) compared to how far EV charging networks have come in just over one decade.