Hyundai showcases XCIENT in the US

Korean auto giant Hyundai is stepping up its efforts with its XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, with the manufacturer featuring what it terms as a “commercialised” example of the heavy-duty prime mover at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo, currently underway in Anaheim, Los Angeles (May 1 to 4).

A strong advocate for hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cell technology, Hyundai says its XCIENT Fuel Cell truck has now completed over four million miles (6.4 million kilometres), having been deployed in five countries: Switzerland, Germany, Israel, Korea and New Zealand. The company says, “it is the only heavy-duty fuel cell electric model with a proven record of real-world application and technological reliability”.

Attracting plenty of attention at the Hyundai stand at the expo was a 6x4 XCIENT Fuel Cell fitted with two 90kW hydrogen fuel cell systems and a 350kW electric motor. Hyundai quotes a GCM of just over 30 tonnes for the model, along with a driving range of just over 720km per charge, even when fully loaded.

The expo has also given Hyundai, which has been heavily involved in hydrogen research and development for the last 20 years, a platform upon which it can highlight its ambitions for the fuel source in one of the world’s most important markets.

According to Hyundai’s Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Business, Ken Ramirez, who spoke at the firm’s press conference at the expo, hydrogen mobility and the development of a clean hydrogen ecosystem can be effective tools to help transportation achieve carbon neutrality.

“We firmly believe that hydrogen is one of the most powerful and pragmatic solutions for achieving our vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’, with emission-free mobility as a fundamental pillar for a sustainable society,” he said.

“Our hydrogen fuel cell technology has pioneered the industry, with a real-world proven track record of its efficiency and durability. We are leveraging these merits to further transform transportation with hydrogen energy for a broad range of mobility applications, including commercial vehicles, marine vessels and even air mobility.

“We now look beyond mobility toward an integrated hydrogen ecosystem, from production of hydrogen to its storage, transport and delivery. Hyundai is uniquely positioned to cover all aspects and deliver a seamless solution across the value chain.”

Mark Freymueller, Hyundai’s Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Business Innovation, said Hyundai would form partnerships in the US to accelerate the deployment of clean fleets in the US, as it has done elsewhere.

“For years, we have been initiating hydrogen value chains in various regions,” he said. “Together with our partners, we are making hydrogen mobility a viable solution for our customers. We go beyond the truck itself to include areas such as hydrogen refuelling and truck maintenance.

“Here in the US, we plan to do the same, since each case needs its tailor-made service approach, especially during the transition phase from traditional to hydrogen. We plan to provide the best hydrogen value chain scenario for each and every customer.”

Hyundai is currently building a dedicated EV factory in Georgia. Dubbed the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), the company says the plant will have the capacity to produce up to 300,000 EVs annually. The facility will also foster what Hyundai terms as an “eco-friendly commercial vehicle incubation project” centred on the development of a hydrogen mobility value chain.

Hyundai says it is confident that with government support and more players entering the hydrogen market, the total cost of ownership for fuel cell electric vehicles will decrease considerably in coming years, while climate change and supply chain issues will further accelerate the transition to clean energy sources.