Hyundai Motor unveils XCIENT fuel cell tractor in N.America

Hyundai Motor Co. showcased the mass-production model of its XCIENT Fuel Cell Tractor, a 37.2-ton 6x4 truck specifically designed for long-distance driving in North America, at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo 2023 in Anaheim, California, from May 1~4, the company said on Wednesday.

The truck features a 180-kW hydrogen fuel cell system and a 350-kW drive motor, providing a driving range of over 720 km at maximum cargo capacity after a single charge.

Hyundai Motor highlighted its plans to expand its eco-friendly commercial vehicle business in North America, emphasizing its efforts to establish a "hydrogen value chain" that includes hydrogen supply, leasing and financing, fleet operations, maintenance and services. The automaker intends to collaborate with local partners to help customers adopt hydrogen mobility solutions that are optimized for their business.

In particular, Hyundai Motor plans to maximize synergy with Hyundai Glovis (vehicle operation), Macquarie (leasing and financing), FEF (hydrogen supply) and Pape (maintenance), which participated in the "California Port Eco-friendly Truck Introduction Project" in 2021.

The automaker also plans to use its newly established plant, Hyundai Motor Group Meta Planet America, in Georgia, as a test bed for developing an "eco-friendly complete vehicle logistics system" based on hydrogen fuel cell trucks.

The XCIENT Fuel Cell Tractor is part of Hyundai Motor's efforts to build an integrated hydrogen ecosystem that covers production, storage and transportation, including plans to apply fuel cell technology to maritime vessels and aviation mobility.

Hyundai Motor's plans come after its group Chairman Chung Euisun said last week that the group is in talks with the US Environmental Protection Agency to introduce hydrogen-powered fuel cell tractors in the country.

Write to Sung-Su Bae at baebae@hankyung.com