Hyundai Motor Company affirmed at the ‘IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018’ in Hannover that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Swiss hydrogen company H2 Energy (H2E), a company specialized in the production and supply of renewable hydrogen in Switzerland. The MOU focuses on the production of HD fuel cell electric trucks and energy supply.
Beginning in 2019 and over a five year period Hyundai Motor and H2 Energy will provide 1,000 heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks and an adequate supply chain for renewable hydrogen.
With the introduction of the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell electric vehicle, the Tucson Fuel Cell in 2013, and the release of the world’s leading FCEV, NEXO in 2018, the supply of a fleet of fuel cell electric trucks to H2 Energy marks Hyundai Motor’s first expansion of its FCEV leadership into the eco-friendly commercial vehicle sector.
“We are yet again advancing the field of fuel cell technology in the automotive industry with today’s announcement of our ambition to commercialize the fuel cell electric truck for the first time in the world” said In Cheol Lee, Hyundai Motor’s Executive VP and Head of Commercial Vehicle Division. “We will continue to seek opportunities for expanding into other markets by carefully monitoring multiple factors such as fueling infrastructure and governmental policies.”
The fuel cell electric truck is being developed according to European regulations. It features a new 190kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two fuel cell systems connected in parallel, also a feature of NEXO. It is expected to deliver a single-fueling travel range of approximately 400km, and in order to secure sufficient range, eight large hydrogen tanks are being compactly installed, utilizing areas such as between the cabin and the rigid body
The fuel cell electric truck is presented in a simple and clean design which is also aerodynamically efficient, and features a spoiler and side protector.
H2 Energy has business subsidiaries in Germany, Norway and Austria and is experienced in the roll out of an optimized hydrogen ecosystem, which focuses on commercial viability for all stakeholders. The company 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 refueling-station operators, retailers and other customers focusing on eco-friendly innovative solutions for logistics and goods distribution.
“A sustainable hydrogen economy needs a designated ecosystem for hydrogen. This is why our collaboration between Hyundai Motor, H2 Energy, the Swiss H2 Association, and Key electricity producers in Switzerland is strategic and makes a lot of sense” said Rolf Huber, Chairman of H2 Energy.
Fuel Cell Advantage
Fuel cell electric powertrain technology has advantages over battery electric powertrain technology in its applications to larger vehicles such as trucks and buses. Fuel cell technology saves space and reduces weight as well as being more cost efficient to apply as the vehicle size increases. Therefore, the technology is deemed to have a wide array of opportunities to be utilized in the commercial vehicle field.
The global demand for eco-friendly commercial vehicles is expected to increase as eco-friendly government policies are enforced around the world.
Hyundai Embraces Growing Interest
To cater to growing opportunities in the sector, Hyundai plans to diversify its fuel cell electric commercial vehicle line-up. Currently under development is the medium sized fuel cell electric truck (Payload: 4~5 ton) which can be used in the public services domain such as vehicles used for cleaning.
Hyundai Motor also introduced fuel cell electric express buses during the PyeongChang Olympics in South Korea last February 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. Domestically, FCEV taxis and car-sharing services are operating on public roads in Ulsan and Gwangju.
Hyundai Motor began the world’s first fuel cell electric vehicle lease in the United States, also supporting its wider transport industry, including FCEV taxis, and car-sharing services to further support the spread of eco-friendly technology usage.
Hydrogen trucks run on electricity. But unlike battery-electric trucks they do not have to plug in. The driver must refuel hydrogen, which in the vehicle is converted into electricity by a fuel cell.
