Hyundai Xcient fuel cell trucks for Germany

Twenty-seven Hyundai Xcient fuel cell heavy-duty trucks will go to seven German companies in logistics, manufacturing and retail.

The hydrogen-powered trucks will be used in fleet service with funding for eco-friendly commercial vehicles from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV).

The funding programme promotes the use of sustainable drive systems, the development of refuelling/charging infrastructure and related feasibility studies.

Hyundai Motor will leverage the opportunity to further expand its business into the wider European commercial vehicle market.

It has already deployed 47 Xcient fuel cell trucks in Switzerland where they have accumulated more than four million kilometres driving as of July 2022, servicing 23 customers.

Germany is considered the biggest commercial vehicle market in Europe and BMDV rolled out its funding guidelines in August last year for commercial vehicles with alternative drive systems upon approval by the European Commission.

The funding is available for battery, fuel cell and (overhead line) hybrid electric vehicles, corresponding to refuelling/charging infrastructure and related feasibility studies. BMDV will have a budget of 1.6 billion euros available until 2024 to purchase eco-friendly commercial vehicles.

Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Company and Swiss company H2 Energy, has also established Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility Germany GmbH (HHMG) to actively expand its entry into the hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle market in Germany.

HHMG will operate local market sales and customer service as well as upfitter management in the market, and also plans to actively participate in the second funding programme.

The Xcient fuel cell to be delivered is equipped with a 180kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two 90kW fuel cell stacks. The system’s durability and the vehicle’s overall fuel efficiency are tailored to the demands of commercial fleet customers.

The 350kW e-motor has a maximum torque of 2237Nm.

The truck’s seven large hydrogen tanks offer a combined storage capacity of around 31kg of fuel, while a 72-kWh-powered set of three batteries provides an additional source of power.

Driving range is 400km, while refuelling a full tank of hydrogen takes about eight to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature.

Launched in 2020, the Xcient fuel cell is the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen electric heavy-duty truck.