Just when you thought it was safe to count out hydrogen as a viable competitor to battery-electric power in the North American medium– and heavy-duty trucking space, the new Hyundai XCIENT HFCEV Class 8 semi truck arrives in Georgia — and immediately gets to work.
Hyundai’s new XCIENT hydrogen semi trucks are set to be deployed at the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), where the heavy-duty Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell trucks will be tasked with supporting plant-related logistics operations.
Operated as part of a joint venture with transport company/3PL Glovis America, Hyundai’s hydrogen semi fleet will consist of 21 XCIENT trucks, each packing electric motors that combine to deliver about 470 hp and 1650 lb-ft of torque at 0 rpm. Unlike the direct-drive/single-speed setup in Tesla cars and other inexpensive EVs, the Hyundai XCIENT puts all that power through an Allison 400 Series fully automatic six-speed transmission, enabling the electric motor to stay nearer its 0 rpm/maximum efficiency operating range, even at highway speeds.
Range is expected to be something in the range of 400 km (250 miles), though Hyundai didn’t include specific tank specs in its official release…