Hyundai’s Xcient hydrogen trucks deployed in California’s zero-emissions project

Hyundai Motor delivered 30 of its Xcient fuel cell trucks to California as part of the state’s NorCAL ZERO Project, a scheme focused on bringing zero-emissions freight transportation to the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Valley.

The Korean automaker said Friday it held a launch ceremony for the project led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) and the California Air Resources Board at Oakland’s FirstElement Fuel hydrogen refueling station on Thursday.

The delivery came as Hyundai Motor has been selected as the final supplier of hydrogen trucks for the project.

This delivery marks the single largest commercial deployment of hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks in the United States.

CTE projects that the NorCAL ZERO fleet will reduce over 24,000 metric tons in carbon emissions, compared to diesel-powered vehicles, by 2028.

Hyundai also said Friday it will supply five more Xcient trucks in California under the Targeted Airshed Grants program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Hyundai Motor’s Xcient electric truck is the world’s first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen. First released in 2020, the Xcient has been deployed in eight countries, including the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

“The NorCAL ZERO Project in Oakland marks a significant step forward in realizing Hyundai’s vision for a global hydrogen society,” said Ken Ramirez, head of global commercial vehicle business at Hyundai Motor. “The project demonstrates how the transport energy transition is achievable today and will serve as one of the building blocks for Hyundai’s port decarbonization initiatives worldwide.”

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]