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| Ten Hyundai Motor hydrogen electric trailer trucks are loaded onto a ship bound for Switzerland at Gwangyang Port in South Jeolla Province, Monday. Hyundai plans to export a total of 1,600 trucks by the end of 2025. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor |
By Kim Hyun-bin
Hyundai Motor has successfully mass-produced what it claims are the world's first hydrogen electric trailer trucks and exported 10 to Switzerland.
According to the carmaker, 10 of its hydrogen electric trailer trucks dubbed XCIENT Fuel Cell departed for Switzerland on a ship from Gwangyang Port in South Jeolla Province, Monday.
"In the case of trailer trucks which mostly run on diesel, demand for eco-friendly vehicles has been on the rise starting in Europe," a Hyundai Motor official said. "The hydrogen electric truck shows strength in mileage and long-distance driving with just one charge and it will become a replacement for diesel trucks in the future."
Hyundai Motor plans to expand its export base to Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway and the North American market.
Last September, Hyundai and Swiss hydrogen solution company H2 Energy signed an agreement to establish a joint venture to deliver the trucks under the regional title "Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility." The Korean car manufacturer is scheduled to export an additional 40 trucks by the end of this year and a total of 1,600 in stages by 2025.
The XCIENT Fuel Cells that are distributed to the Swiss market will be rented out and renters will pay according to how much they drive the vehicle. The payment covers all aspects of the operation of the vehicle including maintenance, insurance and inspections.
The new "pay-per-use" method is expected to help commercialize and increase operations of the high-end hydrogen electric trucks by reducing the cost burden on clients.
Hyundai Motor aims to create a "hydrogen electric trailer truck ecosystem" by partnering with large truck companies as well as with hydrogen production companies to construct hydrogen charging stations. To efficiently construct hydrogen charging stations H2 Energy last year formed the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association consisting of 21 global energy and distribution companies.
Hyundai Motor also formed an alliance with hydrogen companies Alpig and Linde to establish Switzerland's first commercial hydrogen production company the Hydrospider for a softer landing in the hydrogen electric truck market.
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