Hyundai Hydrogen Electric Trucks to Run in the US... 5 More Units Ordered

With the official launch of the eco-friendly truck introduction project at ports in California, USA, Hyundai Motor Company is accelerating its hydrogen electric truck business in North America. Following the supply of 30 hydrogen electric trucks to the North American region in the second half of last year, an additional 5 trucks were ordered in the first half of this year.

On the 2nd (local time), Hyundai announced that the launch ceremony for the eco-friendly truck introduction project at California ports was held in Oakland. Key stakeholders including Hyundai, the U.S. non-profit organization supporting eco-friendly projects CTE (The Center for Transportation and the Environment), the California Air Resources Board, and the California Energy Commission attended the event.

Hyundai Xcient Hydrogen Electric Truck
[Photo by Hyundai]

This project is a North American port decarbonization initiative led by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Energy Commission (CEC). Hyundai was selected as the final supplier in the eco-friendly commercial truck bidding for this project in 2021, and as part of the project, supplied 30 Xcient hydrogen electric heavy-duty trucks in the second half of last year to 'G.E.T Freight,' a trucking business under Glovis America. This is the largest single supply to a North American transportation company.

Additionally, recently, 'FEF (FirstElement Fuel)' completed the first hydrogen refueling station in Oakland capable of charging up to 200 heavy-duty hydrogen electric trucks per day. This has enabled a stable hydrogen supply. Hyundai has secured competitiveness in the North American market by establishing a hydrogen mobility supply chain that connects hydrogen infrastructure construction, hydrogen electric truck supply, lease and financial service support, vehicle operation, and after-sales management.

With the supply of these Xcient hydrogen electric trucks, it is expected that by the project's completion in 2028, approximately 24,000 tons of carbon reduction can be achieved compared to diesel trucks.

Furthermore, Hyundai plans to supply an additional 5 hydrogen electric trucks to California starting in the first half of this year in connection with the 'TAG (Targeted Airshed Grants)' program led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Ken Ramirez, Vice President of Hyundai Motor's Global Commercial & Hydrogen Business Division, said, "This project is a groundbreaking achievement demonstrating that the transportation industry can transition to clean energy today."