Leveraging more than 20 years of experience in fuel cell technology, Hyundai Motor Company has upgraded XCIENT Fuel Cell, the world's first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen.
The company has recently released images of the 2021 edition of the truck, which saw upgraded design and performance and its competitive edge for a better driving experience.
Hyundai will begin production of the 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell in August this year. The new truck will be available in a 6x2 rigid body configuration and the 4x2 option, introduced in the previous model.
A 180-kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two newly modified 90-kW fuel cell stacks equip the 2021 XCIENT. The fuel cell system's durability and the vehicle's overall fuel efficiency have been improved to better stay in tune with the demands of commercial fleet customers. The 350-kW e-motor with maximum torque of 2,237 Nm further enables dynamic driving performance.
To support the truck's requirements, seven large hydrogen tanks offer a combined storage capacity of around 31 kg of fuel, while three 72-kWh high voltage batteries provide an additional power source. The maximum driving range of the vehicle is around 400 km, based on the hydrogen filling pressure of 350 bar. Refuelling a full tank takes about eight to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature.
Accelerating global presence
As part of its initiative to accelerate the global advancement of its heavy-duty fuel cell truck, Hyundai shipped 46 units of XCIENT Fuel Cell to Switzerland last year. As of May 2021, the cumulative driving range of those trucks in operation reached over 750,000 kilometres. Over that distance, the hydrogen-powered trucks have reduced carbon emissions by an estimated 585 tonne than diesel-powered vehicles. The number is calculated based on the data that a diesel-powered truck of the same class, emitting an average of 0.78kg of carbon dioxide per kilometre.
When will 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell hit the road?
The company plans to ship another 140 units of the new XCIENT Fuel Cell to Switzerland by the end of this year as part of its plan to roll out 1,600 heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks in Europe by 2025. The company is also working on the introduction of XCIENT Fuel Cell in other European markets.
The company also plans to present the new truck to the North American market this year. It is in talks with several local governments and logistics businesses in the US to establish potential joint operations of hydrogen-powered trucks for various purposes.
The Korean company is also reviewing multiple options to introduce its fuel cell technology to corporate and government customers in China.