Hyundai Motor unveils world’s first hydrogen garbage truck

Hyundai Motor Group revealed a clip of the world’s first hydrogen-powered garbage truck Thursday. The video titled “Dear My Hero” candidly shows what it is like to work as a street cleaner, narrated by the workers’ loved ones. 

The hydrogen vehicle, designed the same way as existing garbage trucks, has a hydrogen storage tank and two fuel cell systems. They are the same systems as the ones used in NEXO by Hyundai, the world’s only fuel-cell SUV. 

Thanks to a custom-made motor, the truck can easily drive on an uphill road with a 4.5 ton of garbage. The vehicle itself weighs 9.5 ton. Since January, the hydrogen-powered truck has been in use in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. 

Hydrogen-powered vehicles do not emit engine exhaust, which means the cleaners do not have to worry about breathing in unwanted emissions during their work hour. The truck also sounds of electric motor and hums only and thus 40% lower in noise level compared to existing garbage trucks.

To allow the cleaners to easily wash off at work, the truck is equipped with a small sink that utilizes water from the hydrogen fuel cell system. 

Based on the latest empirical operations, Hyundai Motor Group said it is looking into other industries in which hydrogen-powered vehicles will be needed. 

Write to Hyung-kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com
Jee Abbey Lee edited this article.