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Hyundai Motor Company and autonomous driving technology firm Plus have teamed up to introduce a pioneering concept for a hydrogen-powered, autonomous freight network at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2025 in Anaheim, California. This forward-thinking initiative seeks to transform long-haul freight transportation across the United States by integrating zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell technology with advanced autonomous driving systems.
Key Highlights
- Hyundai Motor and Plus showcase a concept for an autonomous hydrogen freight ecosystem at ACT Expo 2025.
- The concept features Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell truck equipped with Plus’s SuperDrive™ autonomous software.
- Aims to create a scalable, zero-tailpipe emission solution for long-haul freight.
- Envisions benefits like improved road safety, greater efficiency, and reduced carbon footprint.
- Focuses on building hydrogen infrastructure starting with high-utilization routes.
- Hyundai already operates hydrogen trucks in the U.S., including at ports and manufacturing plants.
The concept, presented via a video at the expo, provides a practical roadmap for rolling out autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks along major freight corridors. It begins with high-traffic hub-to-hub routes to drive demand for strategically located hydrogen refueling stations. As the network grows, it would support an expanding fleet of autonomous trucks and promote broader use of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
This strategy delivers multiple benefits, such as zero-tailpipe emissions, rapid refueling, extended driving ranges, quieter performance, and lower maintenance costs. These attributes position Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell truck as an excellent fit for continuous long-haul operations, particularly as hydrogen infrastructure develops.
The plan fosters a self-sustaining cycle: each new route boosts network efficiency and economic feasibility, benefiting autonomous trucks and other hydrogen vehicles alike. Over time, this could reduce operating costs and create a more sustainable transportation ecosystem.
Hyundai Motor is already advancing hydrogen transportation in the U.S. The company operates 30 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks at the Ports of Oakland and Richmond, marking North America’s largest hydrogen truck deployment. Since September 2023, these trucks have traveled nearly 450,000 miles in zero-emission freight transport. In Georgia, 21 XCIENT trucks support logistics at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, with plans for global expansion.
Jim Park, Senior Vice President of Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Business Development at Hyundai Motor North America, said, “We hope to continue our partnership with Plus to add autonomous driving capabilities to XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks in the future and provide our fleet operator customers with additional solutions that improve road safety and freight efficiency.”
David Liu, CEO and Co-Founder of Plus, noted, “Autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks are a transformative step forward in sustainable freight. By combining self-driving and zero-tailpipe emission technologies, we are laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more efficient transportation system.”
The partnership between Hyundai Motor and Plus marks a bold move toward a greener, more efficient future for commercial transportation. By harnessing hydrogen fuel cell technology and autonomous driving, this concept could reshape long-haul freight, cutting emissions and enhancing safety to meet the industry’s evolving needs.
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