Hyundai Motor has deployed eight Xcient Fuel Cell Class-8 heavy-duty trucks in Uruguay – the first operational hydrogen fuel cell truck fleet in South America. The deployment supports low-carbon freight operations and the decarbonization of timber logistics as part of the Kahirós Project.
The Kahirós Project is designed to decarbonize timber logistics in Uruguay by using hydrogen fuel cell trucks fueled by green hydrogen produced from renewable sources. The project aims to achieve decarbonization in local operations through actions including the deployment of the Xcient Fuel Cell trucks over a 10-year period.
The initiative is led by Kahirós Associates, a joint venture comprising Uruguayan companies Ventus (energy), Fraylog (logistics) and Fidocar (Hyundai Motor’s local distributor). It is backed by a US$40m investment from Santander Group, with support from the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank and the United Nations’ Renewable Energy Innovation Fund. Operations are scheduled to begin in November 2026.
The project includes a 4.8MW solar park and the construction of an electrolysis plant capable of generating 77 tons of green hydrogen annually. During regular operation, the main fleet of six trucks is expected to travel nearly 1,000,000km per year. Hyundai Motor will provide two additional tractor units as backups and for exploring further service expansion, taking the total fleet size to eight trucks.
“From the Kahirós team, we value the opportunity to contribute to the decarbonization of freight transport in Uruguay, and we are committed to ensuring that this project becomes a pilot that sets the course for more actions at both the national and global levels, contributing to the efforts to position our country as a hub in this field,” said Kahirós project director Juan Andrés Chick.
The Xcient trucks’ technical specifications include a hydrogen fuel cell system with 180kW output from two 90kW stacks, a 350kW (469hp) electric motor with 2,237Nm torque, 68kg of hydrogen storage across 10 tanks, a 72kWh battery pack and a range of up to 720km. The Class 8 tractors can handle a gross combined weight of up to 37,194kg.
“At Hyundai, we are committed to creating sustainable transportation solutions. Our Hyundai Xcient trucks with hydrogen fuel cells supporting the Kahirós Project produce no tailpipe emissions and offer a lower-carbon alternative to traditional freight logistics methods,” said Airton Cousseau, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Brazil and Hyundai Motor Central and South America Region. “We will help decarbonize a critical part of the paper production value chain and demonstrate to the world that we can take action for a better future starting now.”
Chul Youn Park, senior vice president and head of the global commercial vehicle and light commercial vehicle business division at Hyundai Motor Company, added, “It is meaningful that Hyundai expands its global leadership in clean mobility toward South America with its advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology in addition to its proven applications in North America and Europe. At Hyundai, we aim to contribute to building a sustainable and safe freight ecosystem through hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles. Our partnership with Kahirós Associates has strengthened our devotion to innovation and commitment to sustainability as we share a vision for the future.”
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