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HyFive hydrogen infrastructure gets $51M boost across Europe

"High five!" was one of the catch-phrases of Sacha Baron Cohen's Kazakh comedic alter ego Borat. A real-world HyFive is being announced by a power broker named Boris. And this is serious business. London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a program called HyFive, which will see automakers and other entities invest 31 million British pounds ($51 million US) in a demonstration project for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. By next year, London will have three hydrogen refueling stations, while there will be one each in the Danish cities of Aarhus and Odense and one in Innsbruck, Austria. Leaders of the program are planning for other stations in Sweden, Germany and Italy. The five participating automakers are BMW, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota, while other companies involved include Copenhagen Hydrogen Network, ITM Power and Linde. Those OEMs will make 110 fuel-cell vehicles available for deployment in Bolzano, Copenhagen, Innsbruck, London, Munich and Stuttgart. The program represents an effort to address the "chicken or egg?" challenge inherent to establishing a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle market. While the powertrain technology provides benefits by combining fossil-fuel-like refueling times with long driving ranges and zero emissions, establishing a refueling network and building fuel-cell vehicles is prohibitively expensive, especially in low volumes. The London mayor is no stranger to green transportation technology. Late last year, Johnson made himself available for a photo opportunity with Ecotive and Frazer-Nash, which had developed a six-passenger extended-range plug-in taxicab. The mayor got a test drive in the cabs this week. You can check out the HyFive press release below. Global leaders sign up to GBP31m plan to demonstrate viability of hydrogen vehicles International project HyFive pioneers hydrogen fuel cell technology A pioneering GBP31 million deal will be struck today (3 April) to make hydrogen vehicles a viable and environmentally friendly choice for motorists across Europe. Leading motor manufacturers, hydrogen fuel suppliers, the Mayor of London's Office and energy consultancies from around the globe are signing up to the HyFive project, the largest of its kind in Europe, at City Hall in London today.

Hyundai will add smaller crossovers and make the Santa Fe and Tucson bigger

At the LA Auto Show, Hyundai North American CEO Dave Zuchowski detailed plans to change the all-important crossovers in the company's lineup to better suit the ravenous tastes of American CUV shoppers, Automotive News reports. There are two important aspects: up-sizing existing crossovers, and introducing new small crossovers beneath them. With regard to the first part, Zuchowski said that the Santa Fe and related Santa Fe Sport will both grow in size, and differentiate from each other – which is good, because consumers are generally confused about how the five-seat Sport relates to the seven-seat Santa Fe. In the future, the regular Santa Fe will grow to become an eight-seat crossover, and the Sport will also grow and be redesigned as a more rugged-looking Jeep competitor, AN reports. Along those lines, Zuchowski says the company will change the name of the Santa Fe Sport to reduce confusion and better communicate its market position. The Tucson will grow a bit, but won't be significantly reimagined. The report also indicates that Hyundai also plans on introducing a B-segment crossover in 2018 – that is to say, a competitor to vehicles like the Honda HR-V and Jeep Renegade. We had previously reported that a B-segment crossover was on the way but didn't have timing. Further down the road, an even smaller A-segment crossover will be introduced. These new vehicles will be on sale by 2020, as will the revised Santa Fe and Tucson lines. Related Video:

Hyundai-Kia fuel-economy errors trigger $300M in federal penalties [w/video]

This amount includes $100-million in civil penalties, the largest such fines in EPA history.
Hyundai and Kia are getting more than a slap on the wrist for overstating the fuel economy of an estimated 1.2-million vehicles in their 2011-2013 model ranges. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice and the California Air Resources Board are hitting the automakers with collective penalties valued at around $300 million for Clean Air Act violations. This amount includes $100-million in civil penalties, the largest such fines in EPA history. Specifically, Hyundai is paying a $56.8 million penalty and relinquishing 2.7-million greenhouse gas emissions credits. Kia is paying $43.2 million in penalties and giving up 2.05-million credits.