Hyundai recently stated that its XCIENT Fuel Cell truck fleet would increase in 2023, reiterating its commitment to hydrogen technology.
The news was announced during the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in 2022. At the exhibition, Hyundai will discuss the status of its NorCAL ZERO Project. Hyundai will deploy 30 Class 8 6×4 XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty tractors to the Port of Oakland (California) in 2023 as part of this project.
Hyundai will participate in a number of panel discussions as part of the exhibition, with the topic “Coming Around the Corner, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles.”
These panels will examine the various problems and opportunities that the hydrogen fuel cell electric car faces. Hyundai is one of just two manufacturers in the United States to sell an electric fuel cell vehicle. The Hyundai Nexo crossover and the Toyota Mirai sedan are the two vehicles in question, and both share the same fatal flaw: a lack of refueling infrastructure.
“Our ultimate objective is to combat climate change and create a future that is sustainable. Time is running out to prevent global warming “Hyundai Motor Company’s senior vice president and head of the commercial vehicle business innovation, Mark Freymueller, stated. “We feel that there is no way to achieve the energy shift to renewables without hydrogen. It [already] provides a practical and viable alternative to decarbonize the heavy-duty commercial vehicle sector, delivering good driving range, payloads, and refueling time on our trucks, among other things.”
Due to the ease of manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and storage, Hyundai sees hydrogen as the dominant sustainable energy alternative for commercial vehicles. Because hydrogen has a high energy density, it is ideal for long-distance transportation and transporting heavyweights.
Refueling with hydrogen, for example, is faster than charging a BEV semi-truck. In comparison to two hours of charging, you’ll only be offline for ten minutes.
More players will enter the hydrogen space as a result of US government support. Hyundai believes that this will lower the cost of hydrogen vehicles. Hyundai has already invested $1.1 billion in hydrogen technology and is developing a hydrogen racecar to make fuel cells more appealing.
“Hyundai Motor has decades of experience and demonstrated knowledge in the hydrogen fuel cell business. Our track record of commercial fuel cell program success in Korea and Europe was crucial in launching heavy-duty fuel cell trucks in North America “Hyundai Motor Company president and COO José Muoz remarked. “The NorCAL ZERO Project’s deployment of XCIENT Fuel Cell tractors at the Port of Oakland is only the beginning of our aspirations as we work with partners to combat climate change and build a more sustainable future.”
