With funding from the German Federal Ministry for Digital Industry and Transport (BMDV), seven german companies will start to use 27 Hyundai XCIENT electric trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cell. The funding program promotes the use of sustainable propulsion systems, the development of charging infrastructure and related feasibility studies. The trucks will be powered by two hydrogen fuel cellseach of them 90 kW, which feed a 350 kW electric motor of power The seven hydrogen tanks will allow them a maximum autonomy of 400 kilometers with each refueling.
Germany is today the largest market for commercial vehicles in Europe. Leveraging the German BMVD’s Green and Commercial Vehicle Financing Program, seven companies involved in logistics, manufacturing and retail will put 27 Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks into service. The funding program promotes the use of sustainable propulsion systems, the development of charging infrastructure and related feasibility studies.
Following the approval of the European Commission, in August 2021 the BMDV announced the guidelines for the financing of commercial vehicles with alternative propulsion systems. The available budget is €1.6 billion until 2024. The funds are applied to different technologies, such as electric vehicles powered by electrochemical batteries, fuel cells and also hybrids (airline). The program includes the financing of the vehicles and the corresponding recharging or refueling infrastructure and the related feasibility studies.
The seven German companies chose to apply for the financing by providing specifications for the durability of the system and global efficiency of Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cells electric truck as they adapt to the demands of the journeys they have to make. This hydrogen electric truck was launched in 2020 by Hyundai Motor and is the first mass-produced in the world. The company has already deployed 47 units in Switzerland, where they serve 23 different customers and have accumulated more than four million kilometers of driving as of July 2022.
The trucks to be delivered to Germany and which will form part of the fleet of these companies are equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system of 180kw formed by two 90 kW fuel cells. These feed the electric motor of 350kw which delivers a maximum torque of 2,237Nm which, according to the manufacturer, allows dynamic driving.
Hydrogen is transported stored in seven great deposits offering a combined storage capacity of about 31 kilograms. The surplus energy that is generated in the hydrogen fuel cell is stored in a system of three lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 72 kWh. The maximum autonomy is 400 kilometers with each charge. Refueling a hydrogen tank takes between 8 and 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature.
According to Mark Freymueller, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Business Innovation at Hyundai Motor Company, the company is proud to enter the German market and will take this opportunity to expand its business in Europe’s largest market. Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Company and Swiss company H2 Energy, has also created Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility Germany to expand its entry into the hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle market in Germany. In order to establish a hydrogen ecosystem in the country, HHMG will handle local market sales and customer service, as well as managing installers in the market. HHMG also plans to actively participate in the second funding program.
