Hyundai Motor is launching its hydrogen fuel cell truck operations in the North American market, marking an official start with the launch of the ‘California Port Environmentally Friendly Truck Implementation Project.’
The ‘California Port Environmentally Friendly Truck Implementation Project’ is a decarbonization initiative for North American ports led by the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission.
The launch ceremony held on the 2nd (local time) in Oakland, USA, was attended by key figures including representatives from Hyundai, the non-profit organization CTE (Center for Transportation and the Environment), the California Air Resources Board, and the California Energy Commission.
After being selected as the final supplier for the eco-friendly commercial truck bidding for this project in 2021, Hyundai formed a consortium with CTE and has been working actively to establish a hydrogen value chain in North America through collaboration with partner companies.
As part of the project, Hyundai supplied 30 units of the XCIENT Hydrogen Fuel Cell large truck to ‘G.E.T Freight’, a truck transport operator under ‘Glovis America’ in the second half of last year. This is the largest single supply for a North American transport company, replacing existing high-emission trucks to handle container transport at the Port of Oakland and vehicle transport at Richmond port.
Hyundai Capital America is providing more competitive leasing and financing services to the truck transport company, while ‘Papé’, a truck specialist service provider in the western region, is responsible for vehicle maintenance and services.
Recently, ‘FEF (FirstElement Fuel)’ completed the first hydrogen charging station in Oakland, capable of charging a maximum of 200 large hydrogen fuel cell trucks per day, ensuring a stable supply of hydrogen. This allows Hyundai to establish a true hydrogen mobility value chain encompassing ‘hydrogen infrastructure development – hydrogen fuel cell truck supply – leasing and financing service support – vehicle operation – post-management,’ thus securing competitiveness in the North American market.
According to CTE, with the supply of XCIENT hydrogen fuel cell trucks related to this project, approximately 24,000 tons of carbon reduction effect is expected compared to diesel trucks by the end of the project in 2028.
Through the hydrogen mobility value chain developed through the ‘California Port Environmentally Friendly Truck Implementation Project’, Hyundai plans to actively expand its environmentally friendly commercial vehicle business in North America in the future.
In particular, Hyundai is set to supply an additional 5 hydrogen fuel cell trucks to California in connection with the ‘TAG (Targeted Airshed Grants)’ program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) starting this first half of the year.
Ken Ramirez, Vice President of Hyundai’s Global Commercial & Hydrogen Business Division, stated, “The California Port Environmentally Friendly Truck Implementation Project has become an important step in realizing Hyundai’s vision for a hydrogen society. This project demonstrates a groundbreaking achievement that clean energy transition is achievable in today’s transportation sector and will be one of the foundations for port decarbonization initiatives.”
Meanwhile, Hyundai has established a mass production system for hydrogen fuel cell trucks for the first time in the world in 2020, gaining recognition for the reliability and eco-friendliness of its hydrogen fuel cell trucks in eight countries including South Korea, the United States, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr