The XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty trucks sold by Hyundai Motor Company in Switzerland have driven more than 5 million kilometers in just over two years. Twenty-three Swiss businesses will use the hydrogen-powered, emission-free commercial trucks beginning in 2020 for logistics, distribution, and retail fulfillment. The company exported 47 units of the trucks.
According to Mark Freymueller, Head of Commercial Vehicle at Hyundai, "XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty truck is the world's first fuel cell truck to reach 5 million km of cumulative driving in real-world customer operation." "Many countries are planning to transition to a sustainable hydrogen society, and the lessons we've learned and the milestone we've reached in Switzerland will provide useful insights to those nations. This business model has been proven successful in Switzerland, and we intend to take that model and apply it elsewhere throughout Europe.
Together with Hydrospider, a green hydrogen production firm, and H2 Energy, a Swiss hydrogen fuelling network provider and XCIENT client, Hyundai Motor developed Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility (HHM) in 2019. By integrating vehicle supply, hydrogen fueling, and green hydrogen generation, Hyundai Motor is helping to establish a green hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty truck ecosystem that eliminates harmful emissions.
The Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell's hydrogen fuel cell system has a combined output of 180 kW, generated by two fuel cell stacks, each producing 90 kW. Commercial fleet clients' needs are considered while designing the system's longevity and the vehicle's overall fuel efficiency. The e-maximum motor's torque of 2,237 Nm and 350 kW of power allow for responsive handling. Seven enormous hydrogen tanks can hold about 31 kilograms of fuel, and three batteries providing 72 kilowatt-hours of power let it run. The real-world range is greater than 400 kilometers per charge. Filling up on hydrogen can take 8 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on the temperature outside.
Hyundai Motor's dominance in fuel cell technology is on display in the widespread deployment of Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell vehicles across various industries and important markets. With the help of funds from the German government's eco-friendly commercial vehicle strategy, Hyundai Motor declared a successful debut in Germany in August 2022. Seven local companies had already announced plans to implement Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks into fleet operation. In addition to the 30 trucks that will be introduced in the NorCal Zero project and begin operating out of the Port of Oakland in the middle of next year, Hyundai Motor has recently secured funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2021 Targeted Airshed Grants (TAG) program to deploy additional Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks in California.
Hyundai Motor Company plans to use the knowledge gained from these public-private partnerships to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial vehicles by developing hydrogen fuel cell electric technology.
