The truck follows the introduction of its ix35 Fuel Cell and the NEXO car that it powers. The OEM says that the truck aims at simple and clean design which is also aerodynamically efficient with a spoiler and side protector.
During the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hanover, Hyundai and H2 Energy announced plans to provide 1,000 fuel cell trucks to the Swiss market from 2019-2023. A ceremonial signing of a memorandum of understanding was signed by Hyundai Motor’s executive vice president and head of commercial vehicle division, In Cheol Lee, as well as chairman of H2 Energy, Rolf Huber.
The truck is claimed to have a 400km (250mi) range in real-life driving conditions. It features a new 190kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two fuel cell systems connected in parallel, which is also a feature of NEXO. Eight large hydrogen tanks are to be installed in areas such as between the cabin and the rigid body.
H2 Energy produces and supplies renewable hydrogen in Switzerland, with subsidiaries in Germany, Norway and Austria. It plans to make Hyundai’s fuel cell electric trucks available to its Swiss customers, starting with the dedicated members of the Swiss H2 Association, which includes several refuelling-station operators, retailers and other customers focusing on eco-friendly innovative solutions for logistics and goods distribution.
The companies claim that fuel cell electric powertrain technology has advantages over battery electric powertrain technology for larger-vehicle applications: it saves space and reduces weight, and is said to increase in a cost-efficient manner as vehicle size scales up.
Hyundai is currently developing a “medium-sized” fuel cell electric truck with 4.5-tonne payload for public services.
Hyundai Motor introduced fuel cell electric express buses during the PyeongChang Olympics in South Korea, and is currently conducting a pilot operation with fuel cell electric buses in South Korea’s major cities, whilst reviewing plans for mass production by 2020.
Hyundai Motor also recently completed South Korea’s first domestic highway journey with an autonomously navigated semi-trailer truck. Hyundai’s Xcient truck drove approximately 40km on the highway between Uiwang and Incheon, carrying large semi-trailer simulating cargo transportation, showcasing Hyundai’s innovative technological advancement in future mobility.