Hyundai Motor Company’s Xcient Fuel Cell Class-8 truck fleet has logged 20,000,000km across Europe. Over five years, 165 trucks have operated in Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Austria, highlighting the potential of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in commercial transportation.
“Hyundai Motor is reducing carbon emissions by working with global partners to deploy hydrogen fuel cell trucks across various sectors such as logistics, distribution and urban public operations,” said Chul Youn Park, head of the global commercial vehicle and light commercial vehicle business division at Hyundai Motor Company. “Starting with our initial operations in Switzerland, we have expanded our presence across multiple regions in Europe while achieving visible progress in North America as well. Our hydrogen commercial vehicles continue to demonstrate their value as mobility solutions for a more advanced future, helping build the hydrogen ecosystem and expanding their global impact.”
Hydrogen mobility
First launched in Switzerland in October 2020, Xcient Fuel Cell trucks initially reached 10,000,000km of cumulative driving distance in the country by June 2024. The trucks’ consistent performance has spurred expansion into new regions and a growing range of applications, including food and beverage logistics, supermarket distribution and specialized vehicle types such as refuse and crane trucks.
Compared with a fleet of conventional diesel trucks, which would emit around 13,000 tons of CO2 over 20,000,000km, Hyundai’s Xcient Fuel Cell trucks achieve a substantial reduction in carbon emissions – roughly equivalent to the annual CO2 absorption of 1.5 million pine trees.
Hyundai Motor launched the new Xcient Fuel Cell truck in 2025, with an upgraded hydrogen fuel cell system. The vehicle has undergone rigorous testing since 2021, ensuring its suitability across a range of climates and use cases. This testing, combined with continuous collaboration with fleet operators, has ensured the vehicle meets various customer driving needs.
In related news, Kia EV2 prototype demonstrates “impressive range” in extreme cold tests