Hyundai Makes Moves in the US with Fuel Cell Tractor Xcient

Hyundai has unveiled its Xcient fuel cell tractor for the US market, joining the five other countries where the vehicle is already available. The class 8 vehicle is equipped with two 90 kW hydrogen fuel cell systems, providing a total of 180 kW power, and a 350 kW electric motor. According to Hyundai, the 6×4 tractor boasts a range of over 450 miles (724 km) when fully loaded.

The Xcient has already garnered interest from the US, with Hyundai announcing the NorCal Zero project in 2021, which will feature 30 Xcient FCEVs operating in California by the second quarter of 2023. It will be the largest commercial deployment of Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks in the US.

See also: Hyundai Hyundai XCient hydrogen heavy duty truck to debut in Germany

Hyundai aims to set up a hydrogen mobility value chain in the US, which includes a project at the manufacturer’s EV factory in Georgia. The company plans to incorporate “an eco-friendly logistics system integrating hydrogen fuel cell trucks and a complete hydrogen value chain.” Mark Freymueller, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Business Innovation at Hyundai Motor, stated that the company would “go beyond the truck itself to include areas such as hydrogen refuelling and truck maintenance.”

The Xcient has already been deployed in Germany, Switzerland, Korea, New Zealand, and Israel. The Swiss project was one of the most significant, with initial plans calling for a fleet of up to 1,600 fuel cell trucks. However, the project did not proceed as planned due to fluctuating energy prices.

See also: Hyundai XCIENT hydrogen-electric trucks will transport liquified hydrogen across California

Hyundai launched the Xcient in 2020, and a revised version followed six months later. Hyundai regards the Xcient as the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered electric truck for heavy-duty transport. The company is continuing to make strides in the field of sustainable mobility, with a focus on creating tailor-made service approaches to support its customers’ transition to hydrogen fuel cell trucks.