South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor has joined forces with Silicon Valley AI company Plus to introduce the first-ever self-driving Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in the United States.
The autonomous XCIENT Fuel Cell Truck made its debut at the ACT (Advanced Clean Transportation) Expo in Las Vegas, alongside another self-driving truck, the VNL Autonomous developed by Volvo and Aurora Innovation.
What sets the XCIENT apart is its utilization of fuel cell technology, aligning with Hyundai’s commitment to expand the use of hydrogen as part of its sustainability program.
Fuel cell vehicles operate on compressed hydrogen gas, which is converted into electrical energy by a fuel cell stack. This electricity then powers the vehicle’s electric motors, resulting in zero emissions.
The non-autonomous version of the XCIENT has been in commercial operations in eight countries since 2020, establishing a track record of reliability.
The new variant showcased in Vegas is equipped with Plus’s SuperDrive autonomous driving system, offering Level 4 automation according to the Society of Automotive Engineers. This means the truck can drive itself in specific scenarios and locations without human intervention.
SuperDrive combines lidar, radar, and cameras to provide perception, planning, prediction, and self-driving capability.
The autonomous capabilities of the XCIENT are currently being evaluated in the U.S., although with a safety driver, marking the first assessment of a Level 4 fuel cell Class 8 truck in the country.
While the vehicle is presented as a “demonstration truck,” Hyundai is serious about developing autonomous fuel cell solutions.
“By adding autonomous capabilities to our world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, Hyundai is looking forward to providing fleets and vehicle operators additional solutions that enhance road safety and freight efficiencies thanks to Plus’s industry-leading autonomous driving technology,” said Martin Zeilinger, Hyundai executive vice president.
Plus co-founder Shawn Kerrigan added, “A decarbonized future with autonomous hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks that also improve safety and efficiency is one that Plus is proud to support with our cutting-edge autonomous driving technology.”
The unveiling of the Hyundai/Plus truck, along with the Volvo/Aurora effort, and the autonomous Freightliner eCascadia technology demonstrator from Daimler Truck and Torc Robotics, demonstrates the accelerating pace of innovation in the autonomous trucking sector.
