Logistics: Hyundai delivers fuel cell trucks to NorCAL ZERO Project

Hyundai delivered 30 of its fuel cell trucks to Northern California. The 30 Hyundai XCIENT Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks will hit the road as part of the NorCAL ZERO Project to push for emission-free freight transportation.

Glovis America will operate the trucks around the Port of Oakland. FirstElement Fuel set up a hydrogen filling station in Oakland, where the trucks will be refuelled. The station can support up to 200 H2 trucks per day by design. The fuel comes from project partner Air Liquide.

The project is also known as “Zero-Emission Regional Truck Operations with Fuel Cell Electric Trucks.” It is led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) and kicked off in August 2021. It is funded with $29 million by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and The California Energy Commission (CEC) to purchase the above-mentioned hydrogen-powered trucks, infrastructure and maintenance facilities.

But back to the trucks: Hyundai launched the Xcient fuel cell in the US in Mai 2023. Even before that, specifically in July 2021, the manufacturer secured the order for the fuel cell trucks for the NorCAL ZERO project. The Class 8 vehicle has two 90 kW hydrogen fuel cell systems (total 180 kW power) and a 350 kW electric motor. According to Hyundai, the 6×4 tractor has a range of more than 450 miles (724 km) when fully loaded.

“The NorCAL ZERO Project in Oakland marks a significant step forward in realizing Hyundai’s vision for a global hydrogen society,” said Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle & Hydrogen Business at Hyundai Motor Company. “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.”

“The deployment of these trucks in Northern California provides a groundbreaking opportunity to demonstrate the exceptional performance of fuel cell electric trucks for an industry that has traditionally relied on conventional diesel and CNG-powered vehicles,” said CTE Executive Director Dan Raudebaugh. “We look forward to being a part of a new era for trucking across the U.S. – one marked by zero-emission vehicles that won’t force fleets to compromise on performance.”

hyundai.com, cte.tv (NorCAL ZERO Project)