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Hyundai Motor’s XCIENT Fuel Cell Trucks Achieve Record of 10 Million km Total Driving Distance in Switzerland

Releases  •  2024.06.12

• XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks clock 10 million km in Swiss fleet usage, demonstrating long-term dependability.
• CO₂ reduction impact estimated to equal the creation of ~5 million m² of pine forest.
• XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks now deployed in 10 countries, including the U.S., Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Korea, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

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SEOUL, June 12, 2024 – Hyundai Motor Company’s XCIENT Fuel Cell electric heavy-duty trucks have surpassed a cumulative driving distance of 10 million km in Swiss fleet usage — a testament to the hydrogen fuel cell technology’s long-term reliability.

This milestone was achieved in just three years and eight months since XCIENT Fuel Cell began fleet operations in Switzerland in October 2020, underscoring the real-world durability of mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell electric heavy-duty trucks.

There are currently 48 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks in operation in Switzerland. Each truck is powered by two 90 kW fuel cell systems (180 kW total) and a 350 kW e-motor, delivering a maximum range of over 400 km per fill.

Compared with a diesel fleet running the same accumulated 10 million kilometers, the XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks are estimated to avoid approximately 6,300 tonnes of CO₂. That reduction is equivalent to the amount of carbon absorbed annually by about 700,000 pine trees, or the creation of a pine forest covering roughly 508 hectares (~5 million m²).

All XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty trucks operating in Switzerland use only green hydrogen, meaning no carbon is emitted in the production process. This supports the development of an eco-friendly hydrogen value chain in Europe.

The achievement also advances Hyundai Motor’s hydrogen technology roadmap. By analyzing vehicle data on mileage, hydrogen consumption, and fuel cell stack performance associated with this milestone, the company plans to further refine its fuel cell systems and apply improvements across multiple vehicle types.

Beyond supplying vehicles, Hyundai Motor is actively supporting the commercial hydrogen ecosystem — spanning hydrogen production, charging infrastructure, and end-use applications.

At CES 2024, Hyundai announced the expansion of its hydrogen brand HTWO. Established in 2020 for Hyundai’s fuel cell systems, HTWO now represents the Group’s full hydrogen value chain — from production and storage to transportation and utilization — accelerating the transition to a hydrogen society.

In May, at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2024, Hyundai unveiled its U.S. clean logistics business, including the NorCAL ZERO Project, which deployed 30 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks in California for container and vehicle transport. Hyundai also introduced the Clean Logistics Project, aimed at reducing emissions by deploying XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks at the Hyundai Motor Group Manufacturing America (HMGMA) facility in Georgia.

Recognized for reliability and eco-friendliness, XCIENT Fuel Cell has now been deployed in 10 countries: the U.S., Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Korea, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.