With funding from the German Federal Ministry for Digital Industry and Transport (BMDV), seven German companies will start using 27 Hyundai XCIENT electric trucks Powered by hydrogen fuel cell. The funding program encourages 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 power The seven hydrogen tanks will allow them a maximum autonomy of 400 kilometers at each refueling.
Germany is today the largest commercial vehicle market in Europe. Leveraging Germany’s BMVD funding program for green and commercial vehicles, seven companies involved in logistics, manufacturing and retail will put 27 trucks into service Hyundai’s XCIENT fuel cell. The funding program encourages 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 euros 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 vehicles and the corresponding recharging or refueling infrastructure and the associated feasibility studies.
The seven German companies chose to apply for funding by providing specifications for system durability and overall efficiency of XCIENT Fuel Cells electric truck from hyundai since they adapt to the demands of the trips they have to make. This hydrogen electric truck was launched in 2020 by Hyundai Motor and is the world’s first mass-produced product. The company has already deployed 47 units in Switzerlandwhere they service 23 different customers and have accumulated over four million driving miles as of July 2022.
The trucks which will be delivered in Germany and which will be part of the fleet of these companies are equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system of 180kW form by two 90 kW fuel cells. These power the electric motor of 350kW which delivers a maximum torque of 2.237 Nm which, according to the manufacturer, allows dynamic driving.
The hydrogen transported stored in seven major deposits offering a combined storage capacity of approximately 31 kilograms. Excess energy generated in the hydrogen fuel cell is stored in a three lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 72 kWh. The maximum autonomy is 400 kilometers with each charge. Filling up 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 seize the opportunity to expand into Europe’s largest market. . Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Company and Swiss company H2 Energy, has also established Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility Germany to expand its entry into the hydrogen commercial vehicle market in Germany. In order to establish a hydrogen ecosystem in the country, HHMG will handle sales and customer service in the local market, as well as the management of installers in the market. HHMG also plans to actively participate in the second funding program.