Hyundai has announced that 27 of its Xcient Fuel Cell hydrogen trucks will be delivered to German companies, thanks to funding from the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV). The Xcient Fuel Cell truck has been operating in Europe since the summer of 2020, with 45 Swiss companies already using 47 of the hydrogen-powered vehicles for heavy-duty transport, covering over four million kilometers. Now, German companies will also have access to these eco-friendly trucks, thanks to the BMDV’s funding initiative.
The BMDV introduced funding guidelines for commercial vehicles with alternative propulsion systems in August 2021, following approval from the European Commission. The guidelines provide funding for battery, fuel cell, and hybrid electric vehicles, with a total of €1.6 billion available for eco-friendly commercial vehicles until 2024. The Xcient Fuel Cell truck is equipped with a 180 kW hydrogen fuel cell system consisting of two 90 kW fuel cell stacks. With a 350 kW electric motor and a maximum torque of 2,237 Nm, the truck can easily handle steep inclines in mountainous regions, even when fully loaded. The truck’s tank has a storage capacity of around 31 kg of hydrogen, providing a range of 400 km. Additionally, there is a 72 kWh battery as a buffer. Depending on the ambient temperature, the seven hydrogen tanks can be refueled in approximately eight to 20 minutes.
According to Hyundai, the Xcient Fuel Cell truck is an eco-friendly alternative to diesel-powered trucks, with zero emissions and a quiet operation. The company hopes that the delivery of these trucks to German companies will help to reduce carbon emissions and promote the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the transportation industry. The BMDV’s funding initiative is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and it is expected that more companies will adopt eco-friendly commercial vehicles in the coming years.
