ANAHEIM, Calif. — Leveraging its expertise providing gas cell passenger autos, Hyundai Motor Co. plans to supply a hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck within the U.S. this 12 months.

Hyundai unveiled the manufacturing model of its Xcient Gas Cell Class 8 truck on Tuesday on the ACT Expo only a block from Disneyland in California.

“Our hydrogen gas cell know-how has pioneered the trade with a real-world confirmed monitor file of its effectivity and sturdiness,” mentioned Ken Ramirez, the Hyundai govt vice chairman who heads the corporate’s international industrial car and hydrogen gas cell enterprise.

The South Korean automaker additional outlined its marketing strategy for distributing the truck and tapping right into a fueling infrastructure.

Hyundai launched the primary model of the Xcient in 2020 in Switzerland, hauling items for a number of massive retailers. It now operates in Germany, Israel, South Korea and New Zealand, accumulating greater than 4 million working miles. Hyundai mentioned it’s the solely heavy-duty gas cell electrical mannequin with a confirmed file of real-world utility and technological reliability.

Hyundai will deploy 30 of the vehicles in northern California this 12 months as a part of the Zero-Emission Regional Truck Operations with Gas Cell Electrical Vehicles undertaking, a public-private collaboration that intends to construct a hydrogen refueling station and ship financial and well being advantages to a deprived group in Oakland. The primary supply of the truck is deliberate for June.

The Xcient truck, together with a loaded trailer and full hydrogen tanks, is rated to hold a gross weight of 82,000 kilos, making it in regards to the equal of a conventional diesel huge rig. It makes use of two stacks tailored from Hyundai’s Nexo gas cell crossover with changes to suit industrial car utilization.

The system converts hydrogen to electrical energy to run the powertrain. Hyundai mentioned the truck would have a variety of about 450 miles with a full load. The powertrain generates 469 hp and 1,650 pound-feet of torque.

However it should require a big fueling community to work within the U.S. There’s nearly none. The nation has about 60 hydrogen fueling stations, all in California, in accordance with the Division of Power. The freight and logistics trade will want a whole lot extra throughout the interstate freeway system to deploy the know-how.

Hyundai mentioned it’s beginning work on that problem.

Within the areas the place the Xcient at the moment operates, the corporate gives hydrogen refueling and truck upkeep, mentioned Mark Freymueller, Hyundai’s head of business car enterprise innovation.

“Right here within the U.S., we plan to do the identical since every case wants its tailored service method, particularly throughout the transition section from conventional to hydrogen,” Freymueller mentioned.

Moreover, Hyundai mentioned it’s working to develop a clear hydrogen ecosystem by means of a waste-to-energy course of that depends on biogas extracted from natural matter akin to meals waste, livestock manure and sewage sludge. It has an illustration undertaking with an area authorities entity in South Korea.

The automaker, half of a big industrial group, mentioned the corporate is taking a look at how hydrogen power may apply to many transportation modes, together with mild and industrial autos, ships and plane.

“We now look past mobility towards an built-in hydrogen ecosystem, from manufacturing of hydrogen to its storage, transport and supply,” Ramirez mentioned.

Others are also taking a look at hydrogen gas cells to energy heavy-duty vehicles.

Toyota North America mentioned final month that it was shifting ahead with repurposing know-how from its Mirai gas cell sedan to create a hydrogen energy equipment for heavy-duty vehicles. The automaker introduced it could begin producing gas cell modules for hydrogen-powered industrial vehicles at its Kentucky plant this 12 months.

Paccar, the maker of Kenworth and Peterbilt vehicles, mentioned on the ACT Expo, which stands for Superior Clear Transportation, that it could supply the kits in a few of its fashions.

Elsewhere, Nikola Corp., a Phoenix startup, mentioned it has orders for 100 Class 8 Tre hydrogen gas cell vehicles and plans to start deliveries within the fourth quarter of this 12 months. Nikola displayed its gas cell truck on the expo.

There, it additionally introduced an settlement with Voltera to construct a North American community of hydrogen fueling stations that can be out there to all industrial vehicles. Voltera will assemble and function the stations at “strategic” places, whereas Nikola will function the hydrogen provider.

And Cellcentric, a 50-50 three way partnership between Daimler Truck Group, proprietor of the Freightliner model, and Volvo Group can also be creating a gas cell powertrain for heavy-duty vehicles. Cellcentric additionally confirmed its gas cell system on the expo this week.

Quantron, a German firm, confirmed its gas cell semitractor. The corporate mentioned it could have a variety of about 750 miles.

The trucking trade sees hydrogen know-how as doubtlessly outperforming battery-electric choices for long-haul freight. The hydrogen-electric powertrain and gas tanks typically weigh lower than the heavy batteries a battery-electric truck would wish to journey lengthy distances. Moreover, hydrogen fueling takes about the identical time as filling up a diesel truck and would not be the identical drag on driving effectivity that lengthy battery charging classes precise.

Hyundai executives mentioned strikes by the Biden administration to assist fund zero-emission transportation and hydrogen infrastructure would create a extra favorable atmosphere for gas cell vehicles.

For instance, the 2021 Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act earmarked $8 billion to create a nationwide community of hydrogen hubs. The 2022 Inflation Discount Act gives tax credit for clear hydrogen manufacturing, creates monetary incentives for hydrogen manufacturing and gives a $40,000 credit score for heavy-duty zero-emission industrial autos akin to gas cell vehicles. States akin to California have further incentives.

California regulators final week voted to start the phaseout of diesel vehicles subsequent 12 months and finish combustion truck gross sales in 2036.