XCIENT Fuel Cell one step closer to commercial operation

A month ago our first XCIENT hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric truck completed its conversion into right-hand drive, undertaken by local engineers in Cambridge. The truck has been painted and bodywork is underway, ready to enter service in a freight fleet. We’ll be able to tell you more soon.

As the first XCIENT kits up for commercial use, a second truck is on its way, due to arrive on our shores in late July. Our engineers, running hot off the first truck’s conversion, will then prepare it for the rigours of local use. The second truck will be welcomed by a growing hydrogen ecosystem with Halycon Power now producing green hydrogen from their Mokai site opened by Minister Megan Woods late last year, and the Hiringa Energy and Waitomo refuelling network that’s well underway.?

We’re also thrilled by developments in innovative new production methods from H2Pro and Hysata which have the potential to take green hydrogen to a 95% per cent energy-efficient production process.

Read more about the XCIENT Fuel Cell project below.

Our tech-savvy local engineers

After it was welcomed in November last year, the first XCIENT went to be converted into right-hand drive for use in New Zealand. The XCIENT is currently made in Korea to specifications for Switzerland.?

The truck is now being prepared for use in a commercial fleet. The truck has been painted, and is now at a specialised upper body builder where the hydrogen tanks will be repositioned behind the cab for road-use and the combination upper truck body and trailer will be constructed. These tasks are also being undertaken by experienced local companies.

Having New Zealand based expertise is of huge benefit to the hydrogen economy, as all the associated companies, engineering solutions, technical expertise and processes need to evolve to suit the new technologies our zero emission future will bring. This experience is an important aspect of our hydrogen program.?

XCIENT to enter real-world service

Our first XCIENT is set to enter service with a premium New Zealand transport company in June 2022. This will mark a significant development for Hyundai and the wider hydrogen economy, as carbon-neutral heavy transport rolls out of the showroom and onto the tarmac.

This does not mean the project is over – the next XCIENT is due to arrive in New Zealand as the first enters service and will join its sister on the road in late 2022. The remainder of our hydrogen-powered truck fleet is set to hit our roads during 2023.?

Each XCIENT on the road replaces an emissions-heavy diesel truck, saving 50* tonnes of C02 per year from being emitted into our environment. Freight emissions are notoriously difficult to offset, as electric vehicle alternatives can’t offer companies the same productivity. Trucks are driven all day, every day. Taking multiple hours out to recharge regularly is time the truck can’t be on the road.

The hydrogen-powered XCIENT FCEV gives heavy vehicle fleets a simple swap – with similar reliability and refuelling time as a diesel truck, but zero emission. As a leader in alternative fuel motoring, we’re excited to bring the first fit-for-purpose solution to New Zealand and put our commercial transport down the same emission-free path as passenger vehicles.

New Zealand’s blossoming hydrogen ecosystem

The XCIENT can enter commercial service because of several partnerships Hyundai New Zealand has developed with hydrogen suppliers and experts.

Halcyon Power opened at the end of November and has intertwined local geothermal power expertise with international hydrogen experience to develop a 1.25 MW green hydrogen plant. The plant uses renewable energy produced at Tuaropaki Trust’s geothermal power station at Mokai near Taupo. The hydrogen from the plant will power the XCIENT’s first trips on New Zealand roads.

As New Zealand’s hydrogen production ramps up, hydrogen experts H2Pro and AFCryo are advising on the rollout of more efficient production methods in New Zealand. They use technologies already proven in Israel and the UK to make hydrogen production up to 95 percent efficient.?

These innovations are great improvements and demonstrate that hydrogen technology is developing fast towards our goals of an efficient hydrogen eco system working parallel to our well-established renewable electricity supplies.

How the XCIENT FCEV works

The technology in the XCIENT Fuel Cell electric truck is based on Hyundai Motor Company’s 2nd generation mass production FCEV SUV – the Hyundai NEXO (launched locally in 2018).

The FCEV truck’s power comes from a powerful 350kW /2237Nm electric drive motor, with energy from 180kW hydrogen Fuel Cell system with dual 90kW Fuel Cell stacks. Seven tanks offer a combined storage capacity of about 32.09kg of hydrogen providing a driving range of up to 400km (range based on Hyundai Korea testing data, while towing an 18-tonne trailer). This is the equivalent of driving from Auckland to Palmerston North.?

Not only is the XCIENT FCEV truck zero-emission, with a by-product of water vapour out of the tail pipe, the XCIENT FCEV Truck also features an Air Purification System. While driving the heavy-duty filter system removes 99.9% of harmful PM2.5 fine particulate matter released into the air from diesel vehicles.?

*based on 80,000km per annum