Hyundai Announces Fuel Cell Partnerships in North America and Europe

Hyundai Motor Company and Cummins Inc. announced that the two global powertrain leaders have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly evaluate opportunities to develop and commercialize electric and fuel cell powertrains. In addition, Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility (HHM), the joint venture between Hyundai Motor Company and H2 Energy, forged a partnership with Hydrospider, a joint venture of H2Energy, Alpiq and Linde to promote green hydrogen ecosystem in Switzerland and European countries in the upcoming future.

Hyundai-Cummins Partnership Details

These new powertrains are expected to be developed by combining Hyundai’s fuel cell systems with Cummins’ electric powertrain, battery and control technologies; the initial development will be focused on the North American commercial vehicle market, including working with North American OEMs on the integration of these systems into their vehicles.

The companies will also explore ways they can work together to develop next generation fuel cell systems, and have each committed to assign a team of individuals to investigate and pursue other areas of collaboration.

“This partnership is a terrific opportunity for both companies to leverage our respective strengths and create new opportunities to grow and broaden the product portfolio we bring to our customers,” said Thad Ewald, Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Cummins Inc. “We’ve made significant investments over the past year to accelerate our fuel cell capabilities including our acquisition of Hydrogenics and this partnership is another step forward.”

“With Hyundai’s global leadership in fuel cell systems coupled with Cummins’ unparalleled electrified powertrain technologies, we expect this partnership to leave a mark in the commercial vehicle market,” said Saehoon Kim, Vice President and Head of Fuel Cell Group at Hyundai Motor Group. “Collaborations such as this will enable us to further diversify our business, as well as reinforce our global hydrogen leadership through sales of new and existing Hyundai fuel cell systems.”

This partnership provides a springboard for Hyundai Motor Company to increase its presence in the North American commercial vehicle market, and Cummins to enhance its electrified power product portfolio by adding Hyundai’s advanced fuel cell technologies.

The new collaboration may extend beyond the commercial vehicle market, as the companies will also evaluate the development of fuel cell power generators. The availability of reliable back-up power generation to prevent data loss in emergency situations is a business-critical requirement for many organizations. Fuel cell back-up power generation is attractive for its reduced carbon footprint.

Hyundai-Hydrospider Partnership Details

As part of this effort, HHM and Hydrospider held a special ceremony at Alpiq’s hydroelectric power plant in Gosgen, Switzerland, to introduce a new business model for green mobility with fuel cell electric trucks in alignment with Hydrospider’s green hydrogen production and a distinctive plan for building up the necessary refueling infrastructure. At the event, meanwhile, Hyundai also provided detailed information about the its next-generation Hyundai H2 Xcient fuel cell electric truck and unveiled a video showing Xcient running on the road.

With global leading hydrogen technology, Hyundai as a truck supplier intends to enter into the European market for eco-friendly heavy-duty vehicles. Indeed, earlier this year, Hyundai and H2 Energy announced the establishment of a joint venture, Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, aiming at taking the lead across Europe’s burgeoning hydrogen mobility ecosystem.

As part of this partnership, HHM plans to bring 1,600 fuel cell electric heavy-duty until 2025, marking the entry of the automaker into Europe’s clean mobility commercial vehicle sector. The venture will then offer these fuel cell powered electric trucks in a specially designed green ecosystem to the members of the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association as well as to other transport and logistics companies promoting hydrogen mobility in Switzerland

HHM will position itself in Europe's fuel cell electric commercial vehicle market as well, where green mobility with strict regulations about carbon emissions are hugely embraced. It will expand its presence further to European countries beyond Switzerland. Currently, there is a strong focus in establishing solutions and partner networks for Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Norway.

For the production of hydrogen and its delivery to the hydrogen refueling stations, Hydrospider was founded at the beginning of 2019, in which H2E, Linde and Alpiq, the host of the event at the Gosgen hydropower plant, participated. The production of hydrogen at Alpiq’s hydroelectric power plant Gosgen will be commissioned from at the end of 2019. The power plant itself has been in operation for over 100 years, having been built in 1917 and rebuilt between 1997 and 2000.

HHM, Hydrospider, and dedicated members of the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association are jointly creating the infrastructure for fuel cell truck mobility solutions through a strong business case. These players are dedicated to solve the chicken-egg dilemma and demonstrate both the economic and ecologic viability of commercial fuel cell truck mobility.

Hyundai’s world-leading position in hydrogen technology and the enormous demand for fuel cell trucks powered by green hydrogen allows Hyundai to gain a strategic foothold in Switzerland through HHM. Meanwhile, the global demand for eco-friendly commercial vehicles is expected to increase as environmentally-friendly government policies are enforced around the world.

The next-generation Hyundai H2 XCIENT Fuel Cell truck

The supply of a fleet of fuel cell electric trucks to Switzerland marks Hyundai’s first expansion of its FCEV leadership into the eco-friendly commercial vehicle sector.

The Hyundai H2 XCIENT Fuel Cell truck has been developed according to European regulations. It features a new 190kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two 95kW fuel cell stacks connected in parallel. It delivers a single-fueling travel range of more approx. 400km. It carries seven large hydrogen tanks with the storage capacity of almost 35kg of hydrogen.

Hyundai’s fuel cell electric trucks will be available to its Swiss customers, starting with dedicated members of the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association.

“Through this partnership between Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility and Hydrospider, Hyundai Motor will offer its fuel cell electric trucks in a specially-designed ecosystem,” says In Cheol Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Division, Hyundai Motor. “We believe that our strong business case demonstrates both the economic and ecologic viability of fuel cell truck mobility. Once again, Hyundai Motor demonstrates its commitment to both innovation and the environment.”

“Hyundai is a world leader in hydrogen technology, and this has been further emphasized though the company’s new Xcient fuel cell electric truck,” says Rolf Huber, Chairman of Hydrospider AG. “Hydrospider is very proud to be a part of this pioneering venture. As well as producing green hydrogen, we are creating an ecosystem with the necessary infrastructure that will enable these vehicles to operate successfully in the Swiss market.”