Hyundai Motor Company shares hydrogen vision, US Clean

May 22, 2024

Hyundai Motor Company shared its hydrogen vision at the ACT Expo booth, introducing clean logistics operations in the U.S. powered by the company’s Class 8 XCIENT fuel cell electric trucks.

Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Business at Hyundai Motor, emphasized the company’s commitment to building a hydrogen society. He spoke about the true value of hydrogen and how Hyundai Motor Group can leverage the cross-industry capabilities of its affiliates covering the entire hydrogen value chain – from hydrogen production and storage to logistics, transportation and various applications – to realize the company’s vision of a hydrogen society.

Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor announced its vision for the HTWO brand to play an expanding role in the hydrogen value chain, signaling its intention to serve as a catalyst for the global energy transition. Hyundai Motor aims to realize its vision of a hydrogen society by leveraging the Group’s comprehensive capabilities across industries.

“The expanding role of our HTWO brand reflects Hyundai’s unique reach beyond mobility into the comprehensive hydrogen value chain leading the global energy transition,” said Ramirez. “We are different from other energy companies with roots in mobility, and we are also different from other mobility companies with branches so deep into the energy sector. Our mission has always been clear: to leverage our strengths in both mobility and energy to realize our vision of a hydrogen society.”

In his presentation, Jim Park, senior vice president of commercial vehicle and hydrogen development at Hyundai Motor North America, detailed the company’s Class 8 XCIENT fuel cell electric trucks being rolled out in major hydrogen logistics projects in the U.S., including Project NorCAL ZERO and Project Clean Logistics, to further demonstrate the company’s commitment.

Last year, Hyundai deployed 30 XCIENT fuel cell trucks to transport containers and vehicles at the Ports of Oakland and Richmond through the NorCAL ZERO project, the largest commercial deployment of Class 8 heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks in North America. In Georgia, the company is working on a clean logistics project at its Hyundai Motor Group America (HMGMA) to decarbonize the company’s production facilities.

“This landmark port decarbonization initiative in California is a great example of how hydrogen-powered trucks can pave the way for a sustainable future of logistics,” said Park. “By replicating the success of NorCAL ZERO and tailoring it to specific customer needs, Hyundai aims to create a global network of clean, hydrogen-powered operations.”

Hyundai Motor is actively working to reduce carbon emissions from its own logistics through clean logistics projects. This year, the company will take an important step by deploying XCIENT fuel cell trucks to its factory in Georgia. This deployment will kick off Hyundai Motor’s efforts to reduce emissions from its internal logistics operations.