Hyundai Motor Launches Zero-Emission Freight Initiative
Hyundai Motor Company has launched the NorCAL ZERO Project, a significant initiative utilizing its hydrogen fuel cell technology to introduce zero-emission freight transportation to the bustling San Francisco Bay Area and California’s Central Valley.
The dedication event, hosted at Oakland’s FirstElement Fuel Hydrogen Refueling Station, brought together Hyundai Motor and its project partners, including the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), GLOVIS America, Inc. (GLOVIS America), East Bay Municipal Utilities District, FirstElement Fuel (FEF), Papé, the University of California, the Port of Oakland, the City of Oakland, and the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP), representing the community of West Oakland.
Also present were representatives from the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the California Energy Commission (CEC), all pivotal contributors whose grant funds made this project a reality.
Under the NorCAL ZERO Project, also known as Zero-Emission Regional Truck Operations with Fuel Cell Electric Trucks, Hyundai Motor has deployed 30 Class 8 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks with a 6×4 drive axle configuration in California. These trucks have been in commercial operation since last year, marking the largest single deployment of Class 8 hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks in the U.S.
“The NorCAL ZERO Project in Oakland signifies a significant stride towards realizing Hyundai’s vision for a global hydrogen society. It demonstrates how the transition in transport energy is achievable today and will serve as a cornerstone for Hyundai’s port decarbonization efforts worldwide.”
Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle & Hydrogen Business at Hyundai Motor Company, commented.
Hyundai Motor has been collaborating closely with key partners to establish a comprehensive hydrogen mobility ecosystem across North America, ensuring the successful deployment and operation of its hydrogen-powered trucks. Last year, Hyundai Motor supplied 30 units of XCIENT Fuel Cell electric trucks to G.E.T Freight Corp, a truck-based freight transport business of GLOVIS America. Leveraging its logistics network and capabilities, this commercial operation has been underway since last year, transporting containers from the Port of Oakland and vehicles from the Port of Richmond. Hyundai Capital America is providing competitive leasing and financing services to GLOVIS America.
These trucks can be fueled at FirstElement Fuel’s newly constructed hydrogen refueling station, designed to accommodate up to 200 heavy-duty trucks per day. Papé, a specialized truck service provider in the western region, will offer vehicle maintenance and services at its San Leandro facility in California. Through collaboration with its drayage consortium partners, Hyundai is accelerating the transition to a more sustainable transportation future in North America, with its hydrogen ecosystem playing a pivotal role.
Dan Raudebaugh, Executive Director of CTE, highlighted the groundbreaking opportunity the deployment of these trucks presents for Northern California.
“The NorCAL ZERO fleet has the potential to significantly improve air quality in the region, with an estimated reduction of over 24,000 metric tons of carbon emissions compared to diesel-powered vehicles.”
He stated.
Jim Park, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Business Development at Hyundai Motor North America, expressed pride in being part of the largest-ever deployment of Class 8 fuel cell electric trucks in North America. He emphasized Oakland’s leadership in clean, sustainable freight transportation as a blueprint for future deployments across the U.S.
Hyundai Motor’s XCIENT Fuel Cell electric truck stands as the world’s first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen. Since its launch in 2020, XCIENT Fuel Cell has been deployed in eight countries, including the U.S., Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Korea, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. At CES 2024, Hyundai Motor announced the expansion of its HTWO vision, evolving from fuel cell technology to a holistic hydrogen value chain vision encompassing production, storage, transportation, and utilization.
