Hyundai to launch hydrogen-electric truck business in North America

Hyundai will officially launch its hydrogen electric truck business in the North American market with the official launch of the Port of California Zero Emission Truck Adoption Project (NorCAL ZERO).

The California Ports Green Truck Adoption Project is a North American port decarbonisation initiative led by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC).

The launch ceremony, which took place in Oakland, California on the 2nd (local time), was attended by Hyundai, The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), a non-profit organisation that supports green projects in the US, the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission.

After being selected as the final supplier for the project's eco-friendly commercial truck tender in 2021, Hyundai formed a consortium with CTE and has been actively working with partners to build the hydrogen value chain in North America.

As part of the project, Hyundai delivered 30 XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty trucks to G.E.T Freight, a trucking division of GLOVIS America, in the second half of last year. This is the largest single supply to a North American carrier and replaces a fleet of conventional, high-polluting trucks for container haulage at the Port of Auckland and fleet transport at the Port of Richmond.

Hyundai Capital America is providing more competitively priced leasing and financing services to trucking companies, while Papé, a specialised truck service company in the West, is handling vehicle maintenance and servicing.

In addition, FirstElement Fuel (FEF) recently completed the first hydrogen refuelling station in Auckland, which can charge up to 200 heavy-duty hydrogen electric trucks per day, providing a stable hydrogen supply. Hyundai will be able to compete in the North American market by establishing a true hydrogen mobility value chain that encompasses 'hydrogen infrastructure construction - supply of hydrogen electric trucks - leasing and financial service support - vehicle operation - and after-sales management'.

According to CTE, the delivery of Exiant hydrogen electric trucks in conjunction with this project will result in approximately 24,000 tonnes of carbon savings compared to diesel trucks by the end of the project in 2028.

Hyundai Motor Company plans to actively expand its eco-friendly commercial vehicle business in North America by leveraging the hydrogen mobility value chain established through the 'Port of California Eco-friendly Truck Introduction Project'. In conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Targeted Airshed Grants (TAG) programme, Hyundai will supply five additional hydrogen electric trucks to California from the first half of this year.

"The Port of California's green truck deployment is an important step in realising Hyundai's vision of a hydrogen society," said Ken Ramirez, Vice President, Global Commercial & Hydrogen Business Unit, Hyundai Motor Company. "This project is a landmark achievement that demonstrates that the transition to clean energy is achievable in today's transportation industry and will serve as one of the foundations for the port's decarbonisation initiatives."

Meanwhile, Hyundai built the world's first mass-production system for hydrogen electric trucks in 2020, and has entered eight countries, including the United States, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, in addition to Korea, to gain recognition for the reliability and eco-friendliness of hydrogen electric trucks.

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Photo Hyundai Motor Company