Cummins, News, Trucks

Development of Fuel Cell/Electric Powertrains for Trucks

development of fuel cell/electric powertrains for trucks

A couple of recent announcements will see a concentration on the development of fuel cell/electric powertrains for trucks by Hyundai and Cummins. Hyundai has entered into a joint venture to promote a green hydrogen ecosystem in European countries into the future. The Korean company has also recently announced a deal with engine-maker Cummins to combine Hyundai fuel cell technology with the electric powertrain Cummins is developing.

A new business model for green mobility with fuel cell electric trucks in alignment with green hydrogen production and a plan for building up the necessary refuelling 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.

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 (HHM), aiming at taking the lead across Europe’s burgeoning hydrogen ecosystem.

This partnership plans to bring 1,600 fuel cell electric heavy-duty trucks into Europe by 2025, marking the entry of the truck maker into Europe’s clean mobility commercial vehicle sector. HHM will position itself in Europe’s fuel cell electric commercial vehicle market and there is a focus on establishing solutions and partner networks for Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Norway.

According to Hyundai, the global demand for eco-friendly commercial vehicles is expected to increase as environmentally-friendly government policies are enforced around the world.

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

 

development of fuel cell/electric powertrains for trucks
Thad Ewald, Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Cummins and Saehoon Kim, Vice President and Head of Fuel Cell Group at Hyundai signing the MOU.

 

Cummins Deal for Development of Fuel Cell/Electric Powertrains

Hyundai and Cummins announced today that they have entered into a memorandum of understanding to jointly evaluate opportunities to develop and commercialise electric and fuel cell powertrains.

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 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. “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.”

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

“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.

 

development of fuel cell/electric powertrains for trucks

 

 

 

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