Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Trucks

Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) recently debuted the HDC-6 NEPTUNE Concept – a hydrogen-powered Class 8 heavy-duty truck – at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) Show. It’s the company’s way of launching into potential opportunities in the American commercial vehicle market, and it went well! The event fully supported Hyundai’s FCEV 2030 Vision. Furthermore, its NACV Show display reinforced its aim of expanding and accelerating the deployment of fuel cell technology.

Photo Credit: Hyundai

Edward Lee, Head of Hyundai Commercial Vehicle Business Division, said:

“Today at this show, by showing HDC-6 Neptune, the first hydrogen-only concept for Hyundai Motor Company’s commercial vehicles, we will start exploring opportunities in the United States commercial vehicle market. Furthermore, we are willing to work with other partners to pave the way to establish a hydrogen ecosystem for commercial vehicles.”

Hyundai disclosed two fresh concepts relating to its Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle 2030: the HDC-6 NEPTUNE Concept Class 8 heavy-duty truck by HMC and the HT Nitro ThermoTech – a clean energy refrigerated concept trailer by leading trailer manufacturer Hyundai Translead (HT). The tractor-trailer combination is their vision of the future of transportation in America, and worldwide.

Bongjae Lee, Chief Executive Officer of HT, said:

“This refrigerated trailer concept represents a significant advancement in our continued commitment to corporate social responsibility. By developing innovative technology, Hyundai Translead is helping address climate change. The HT Nitro ThermoTech reduces pollutants and emissions while providing reliable and effective cold chain food transportation.”

Fuel cells are ideal for commercial vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks, because of the long driving distances, which require a high drive range. The fuel cells provide a higher payload, less refuelling, and as a result, lower costs.

Fuel Cell Leader

Hyundai has been working with fuel cell technology for a long time now. It launched the first commercially available, mass-produced fuel cell electric vehicle back in 2013. Then, it released NEXO in 2018 and invested $6.4 billion to spur the development of a hydrogen society that same year.

Even the fuel cell powertrain in the HDC-6 Neptune Concept comes from the company’s fuel cell crossovers already in use on the roads today. Hyundai fuel cell trucks are already in use in Switzerland.

Streamliner Design

Art Deco streamliner railway trains from the 1940s and 50s inspired the aesthetic of the HDC-6 Neptune truck. As far as locomotives go, the design of today’s bullet trains originated from these streamliners. Hyundai is sure that the story will be the same for the tractor-trailer trucks of tomorrow – they will originate from its Neptune trucks of today.

Photo Credit: Hyundai

Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Design Officer of HMG, said:

“The fuel cell powertrain gave us the opportunity to redefine the classical typology and architecture of the truck. The Hyundai Commercial Vehicles Design Team started with a white sheet of paper focusing on the new defined functionality resetting all standards in order to project commercial vehicles in the future.”

Not only is the body beautiful and the concept meaningful, but the form follows function as well. The shape of the round-nosed front enabled for a large grille that allows generous airflow into the fuel cell stacks and batteries. Seamlessly integrated into the grille are retractable steps for the driver to get in and out of the vehicle.

So, when will we see these trucks on the road? For now, it remains just a concept, so nobody knows.

This article (Hyundai Reveals Hydrogen-Powered Heavy-Duty Commercial Truck And Trailer) was originally created for Intelligent Living and is published here under Creative Commons.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends.