2004 Kia Sportage FCEV Concept

The Sportage FCEV was Developed Alongside the Conventional Sportage

Amidst the ongoing concern over environmental issues, Kia, Korea's most rapidly growing car manufacturer has taken a step towards

Kia unveiled its new "green" hydrogen-fuel cell Sportage at this year's Paris Motor Show. (Photo: Kia Canada)

zero-emission transportation with its FCEV fuel cell demonstration vehicle, presented at this year's Paris Motor Show.

Based off the soon-to-arrive second-generation Sportage, a compact crossover sport utility that shares overall architecture with the new Hyundai Tucson, the new "green" prototype boasts some of the most highly advanced fuel-cell technology in the world.

Kia's decision to enter the hydrogen-fuel cell development stream might seem unusual at first, being that most experimental

Kia's FCEV concept ingests a strict diet of hydrogen assisted by electrical power. (Photo: Kia Canada)

projects of this magnitude are normally explored only by the largest automotive firms, but Kia is not only committed to the green movement but also is targeting to be among the top five global volume leaders by 2010. Therefore such development is an essential part of the company's growth.

A collaboration of Kia's engineers and experts called in from North America came together to engineer and assemble the Sportage FCEV. Unlike hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, such as BMW's 7-Series and MINI Cooper dual-fuel prototypes that can operate on gasoline or hydrogen, Kia's concept ingests a strict diet of hydrogen assisted by electrical power.

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