Hyundai Motor Company is pleased to announce that its heavy-duty truck model XCient Fuel Cell powered by a hydrogen fuel cell has operated over 5 million km in two years in Switzerland.
Since 2020, the South Korean automaker has exported 47 Hyundai XCient units to 23 companies in Switzerland as a hydrogen-powered zero-emission commercial fleet for logistics, distribution and retail business needs.
Mark Freymueller, Senior Vice President and Head of Innovation for Hyundai’s Commercial Vehicle Business said that the XCient Fuel Cell is the world’s first hydrogen-powered heavy duty truck to reach 5 million km cumulatively in real-life customer operations.
“The experience we have gained and the achievements we have achieved in Switzerland provide good insight for many countries preparing for the transition to sustainable hydrogen fuels,” he explained, citing his official website, Tuesday (1/11/2022).
Hyundai Motor plays an important role in creating an emission-free green hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty truck ecosystem where vehicle supply, hydrogen refueling and green hydrogen production are organically linked.
Previously, in 2019 Hyundai had formed partnerships with various sustainable companies in Switzerland to establish Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility (HHM) as a hydrogen refueling network builder, especially for XCient Fuel Cell customers.
Talking a little about the specifications, the Hyundai XCient Fuel Cell is equipped with two hydrogen fuel cell systems with a power of 190 kW or the equivalent of 254 hp coupled with an electric motor that produces 469 hp with a torque of 3,400 Nm.
The power source is provided by three electric battery packs with a capacity of 73.2 kWh with seven hydrogen tanks with a capacity of 32 kg which are arranged vertically just behind the cabin of the South Korean truck, resulting in dynamic driving performance.
However, equipped with a 6-speed ATM 4500R automatic transmission, the environmentally friendly truck is claimed to be able to cover a distance of up to 500 miles or the equivalent of 804 km with a maximum speed of 85 kph.
Hyundai said it would use this achievement to further promote the decarbonization of commercial vehicles through advances in hydrogen fuel cell technology. “Based on our proven track record of successful operations in Switzerland, we will expand this business throughout Europe,” concluded Mark.
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