Hyundai Xcient fuel cell trucks fleet exceed 1 million km of driving in Switzerland
Hyundai plans for the fuel cell trucks will put more pressure on companies that are developing their own hydrogen plans.
Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility’s fleet of Xcient Fuel Cell trucks has crossed 1 million km of driving in 11 months of service in Switzerland.
The 46 hydrogen fuel cell trucks fleet started operation in October 2020 and serving 25 Swiss companies in logistics, distribution and supermarket fulfilment. So far, the fleet has cut CO2 emissions by around 630 tonnes, compared to diesel-powered vehicles. The Swiss customers have benefited from eco-friendliness, short refuelling times, and the long-range attributes of fuel cell trucks.
Hyundai launched the initial model in 2019 and revealed its 2021 Xcient Fuel Cell heavy-duty truck in June 2021, featuring a bold grille design, improved performance and available in a 4×2 or 6×2 rigid body configuration. A total of 140 units of the 2021 model will be shipped to Switzerland by the end of this year. It is expected that the hydrogen-electric trucks fleet will reach 1,600 by 2025.
In 2019, Hyundai and Swiss company H2 Energy established a joint venture Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility (HHM), in Switzerland. HHM leases the Xcient Fuel Cell trucks to commercial truck operators without any initial investment on a pay-per-use basis, including the provision of hydrogen.
Jorg Ackermann, Chairman of the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association, said, “Many distribution companies are already experiencing the benefits directly by using the Xcient fuel cell trucks, and I think that if summer operation is completed successfully, the demand for the Xcient fuel cell trucks will increase even more.”
Mark Freymüller, CEO of Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, said, “HHM plans to go into other European countries next year. Germany and the Netherlands are the most likely.”
Hyundai Motor Company has set an annual sales target of 110,000 fuel cell electric vehicles worldwide by 2025, under its ‘Strategy 2025’ plan, while reaching 500,000 units by 2030 by focusing more on the commercial fuel cell vehicle market. Hyundai also aims for the truck tractors market and considering North America as the first market for testing.
