Hyundai Motor Company said on Feb. 5 that its XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty trucks have surpassed a cumulative driving distance of 20 million kilometers in Europe, marking a major milestone for hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles in real-world operations.
The XCIENT Fuel Cell truck began operations in Switzerland in October 2020 and reached 10 million kilometers in cumulative mileage by June 2024. The fleet exceeded the 20 million kilometer mark in January this year, reflecting accelerating deployment and utilization across the region.
A total of 165 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks are currently in operation across five European countries—Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Austria. The vehicles are deployed in a wide range of configurations, including refrigerated and frozen delivery vans, refuse collection trucks, hook-lift container vehicles, and cranes, supporting diverse commercial applications.
In Germany, around 110 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks have been introduced by hydrogen-focused commercial vehicle leasing firms and related companies. The trucks are primarily used for logistics operations serving large supermarket chains.
In France, hydrogen-powered trucks are operating mainly in supermarket logistics, while also being deployed as specialized vehicles such as refuse trucks, hook-lift carriers, and cranes in regions including Paris, Lyon, Pays de la Loire, and Burgundy. Additional deployments in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Austria support logistics for food, beverages, and industrial textiles.
Hyundai Motor said the zero-emission operation of the XCIENT Fuel Cell truck delivers significant carbon reduction benefits. Based on guidelines from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, operating hydrogen fuel cell trucks for 20 million kilometers instead of conventional diesel trucks is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 13,000 tons. This is equivalent to the amount of carbon absorbed annually by around 1.5 million pine trees.
The company plans to analyze operational data accumulated during the 20 million kilometer milestone, including driving patterns, hydrogen consumption, and fuel cell system performance, to support further development of hydrogen fuel cell technologies and future product enhancements.
Hyundai Motor is also expanding XCIENT Fuel Cell operations in North America. In December last year, the fleet surpassed one million miles (approximately 1.6 million kilometers) in cumulative driving distance, three years after entering the region.
In North America, a total of 63 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks are currently in operation across projects such as the NorCAL ZERO initiative at California ports, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America’s HTWO Logistics Solution in Georgia, and deployments in British Columbia, Canada.
