By Jung Joo-ri and Yoon Sojung

A Korean hydrogen fuel cell electric car won the highest rating from the safety testing in Europe.

Hyundai Motor Company said on Oct. 24 that Nexo, its hydrogen fuel cell electric car produced in 2018, received five stars from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). Nexo became the first hydrogen fuel cell electric car in the world to win the top rating from the Euro NCAP.

The final result of the Euro NCAP is combined from score in the four areas—the safety of adult and child occupants, driver-assistance and crash-avoidance technologies, and safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicycle riders.

Nexo particularly gained high marks in the safety of adult passengers by receiving 94 percent and that of child passengers with 87 percent. Its own development of inner structure designed to protect the hydrogen fuel tank also led the car to secure the safety in case of a car crash.

Meanwhile, Korea has been supportive with related policies for the supply of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles as it is part of the country’s innovative growth projects. The government allocated KRW 200 billion in next year’s budget for the hydrogen fuel cell car sector, five times more than this year. It also plans to support the production of 15,000 hydrogen fuel cell cars by 2022.

etoilejr@korea.kr