Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - June 2023 - 29

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
Hyundai's fuel-cell technology now is out in the real world, where lessons
are learned and supply chains are built.
when energy from regenerative braking
needs somewhere to go.
A DC-AC inverter sends the power
through a six-speed transmission (only
five gears are used) to a motor that
produces a maximum output of 350 kW
and 1650 lb-ft (2240 Nm). There's also
an electric turbocharger to bring more
air into the stack and a humidifier to
prevent membranes from drying out.
The fuel-cell stacks, battery, inverter,
motor and transmission are the same
between the global and U.S. Xcient
models. The difference lies in the
amount of fuel on board, which is greater
for the U.S. trucks given their expected
longer distances. Overseas, the
Xcients get five tanks at 350-bar (5076psi)
pressure that collectively hold 32
kilograms of hydrogen. That's enough
for a range of more than 250 miles (400
km) and can be refueled in 15 minutes.
In the U.S., the Xcient gets 10 hydrogen
tanks pressurized at 700 bar, or 68
kg of hydrogen, which Hyundai expects
will be good for 450 miles (725 km).
Refueling should take 30 minutes. The
U.S. Xcient also has two drive axles,
compared to one in other countries.
Hyundai's next target for Xcient
trucks in the U.S. is a fleet that will roam
the Southeast. While Hyundai would
work with partners on the refueling and
other efforts, the overall project is more
in-house than NorCAL Zero.
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
The fuel-cell stacks, battery, inverter, motor and transmission are the
same between the global and U.S. Xcient models. The difference lies in
the amount of fuel on board.
Expanding hydrogen fleets
Once all 30 Xcients are in place, NorCAL
Zero will have the largest Class 8 hydrogen
truck fleet deployment in the U.S.
But not for long. Last fall, Hyundai broke
ground on what it calls its " Metaplant
America, " a new car plant that will be
able to build up to 300,000 batteryelectric
passenger vehicles a year. At the
ACT Expo, Hyundai announced it is
readying a fleet of about 50 Xcients to
take advantage of a new hydrogen commercial-vehicle
value chain as they run
between Hyundai and Kia automotive
and supplier plants in Georgia and
Alabama, as well as nearby ports.
" The plant is following [global corporate
renewable energy initiative] RE100,
and we want to make the inbound and
outbound logistics zero-emission, as well, "
Freymueller said. " And that's where the
commercial-vehicle part came into play. "
Hyundai even could produce its own
hydrogen for the Southeast project, as it
will do at its plant near Cheongju, Korea,
starting in 2024. There, a fuel-cell-powered
garbage truck will collect food waste,
which will be turned into biogas and then
hydrogen that will be used to refuel the
garbage truck and be made available to
residents of Cheongju. Or, Hyundai could
work with partners in Georgia.
" Now the part comes where we need
to convince customers, where we need
to find partners on the hydrogen supply
In the U.S., the Xcient gets 10 hydrogen tanks
pressurized at 700 bar, or 68 kg of hydrogen,
which Hyundai expects will provide 450 miles
(725 km) of driving range.
side and build up these relationships to
get vehicles on the road, " Freymueller
said. " [Unveiling the vehicle at ACT]
was a big day because the truck is not
the bottleneck anymore. We have a
truck here, and you can buy it. "
Sebastian Blanco
June 2023 29
ALL IMAGES: SAE/SEBASTIAN BLANCO
Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - June 2023

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