Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell trucks set to improve air quality in the US

Hyundai is to roll out its newly-developed hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks in California as part of a major project to clean up the region’s air quality.

The demos the Korean marque will bring into the US, as part of two publicly-funded programs, are based on its Xcient Fuel Cell vehicle – the world's first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen boasting an 800 kilometre driving range.

The first initiative will be led by a consortium made up of the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) and Hyundai, and will involve 30 examples, sporting 6x4 drive axle configuration, hitting Californian roads from the second quarter of 2023.

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Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell truck

This will be funded by US$22million (AU$29.8m) in grants from California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), as well as another US$7m (AU$9.5m) boost from the Alameda County Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

The consortium also plans to establish a high-capacity hydrogen refuelling station in Oakland, California, which will be able to support as many as 50 vehicles topping up an average of 30 kilograms of fuel.

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“These investments will support zero-emission trucks and infrastructure development and deployment as part of the US market ecosystem. Public and private project partners have come together to take a big step forward in decarbonising freight and goods movement, as part of CARB and CEC's clean air initiatives,” said Hannon Rasool, Deputy Director of Fuels and Transportation Division at the California Energy Commission.

The second 12-month pilot program, slated to begin in August this year, aims to counter the emissions of diesels in the state by introducing a further two Xcient Fuel Cells – funded by a US$500,000 (AU$678,000) grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Hyundai will also work with the market leader in hydrogen refuelling stations in California, First Element Fuel (FEF), to utilise three facilities in the region to top up the fleet.

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“We look forward to seeing this important fuel cell project from Hyundai come to life,” said Ben J. Benoit, South Coast AQMD’s Governing Board chairman. “The development of long-haul zero-emission technology is key to reducing emissions which will provide immediate benefits to our air and our communities.”

In 2020, Hyundai announced its plan to deliver 1600 Xcient Fuel Cell trucks to Europe by 2025.

Debuting last year in Switzerland when the first 46 units were delivered, the Xcient Fuel Cell has been put through its paces in testing, carrying out more than one million kilometres of driving in real-world conditions. During this time it has reduced CO2 emissions by an estimated 630 tonnes (572,000kg) compared to its diesel counterparts.

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Hyundai's Nexo is fuelled by hydrogen

The carmaker says it will use what is learned from these projects to develop its zero-emissions commercial fleet in the US.

Meanwhile Down Under, earlier this year Hyundai registered the first fleet of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles seen in Australia. The brand’s 20-strong cache of Nexo crossover SUVs hit the road in March as part of the ACT government's fleet, the first hydrogen-powered vehicles to be used by a government in Australia.