Hyundai NZ’s first hydrogen-powered truck due this month

The first of Hyundai New Zealand’s five new hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric Xcient trucks arrives at the Ports of Auckland around November 18.

The Xcient trucks will be on the road starting in the second quarter of next year, in a live field demonstration transporting large volumes of goods commercially across New Zealand.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles, otherwise known as fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), and battery electric vehicles (BEV), will complement one another in the future as the country transitions to zero carbon, Hyundai NZ says, adding that hydrogen technology better suits heavy-duty trucks replacing diesel as the FCEV ones have longer range than BEVs, shorter refuelling times and carry greater payloads.

The electric motor is run by two 90kW fuel cells supported by a small battery pack (72kWh), which is continuously charged through the splitting of hydrogen, resulting in a clean and quiet motor where the only emission is water.

“As a Kiwi owned company, we are big believers of implementing alternative fuel technology here in New Zealand,” Hyundai New Zealand general manager Andy Sinclair says.

“We have championed this through the introduction of New Zealand’s first hydrogen-powered SUV, the Nexo, in 2019. Now with the Xcient FCEV, we have an opportunity to help fast track the large-scale adoption of alternative green fuels in the New Zealand road freight sector.

“We’re fortunate as a local distributor to have a strong working relationship with Hyundai Motor Company, who acknowledge and support our hydrogen ambitions. Hyundai Motor Company anticipated the future potential of hydrogen fuel cells at an early stage, and we have been able to benefit from that.”

New Zealand is just the third country to have access to these trucks, following Switzerland and Korea.

Hyundai New Zealand has initially taken Swiss specifications to get the programme underway early. The trucks will be converted locally to New Zealand configuration and a body affixed in preparation to hit New Zealand roads.

Some Xcient FCEVs are already in real world operations, collectively exceeding two million kilometres of driving.

Hyundai New Zealand will work with local partners in the freight sector to determine where the trucks will operate regionally.

The demonstration will give insights into how the trucks fit into timetables, capacity, maintenance schedules, refuelling, drivability and user-training specific to New Zealand.

Hyundai New Zealand’s introduction timing will complement the rollout of a hydrogen refuelling network.

Each Xcient FCEV operating in place of an equivalent diesel truck will save about 50 tonnes of CO2 annually from being emitted.

With the New Zealand heavy transport sector responsible for 25% of transport emissions, green hydrogen provides a practical zero emission alternative to accelerate progress toward meeting New Zealand’s emission reduction targets, Hyundai NZ says.

The truck will be briefly at Hyundai New Zealand’s Auckland premises before starting localisation and preparation for use in New Zealand.

Hyundai New Zealand is a founding member and the first automotive brand to join the NZ Hydrogen Council in 2018.