À̹ÌÁö È®´ë Rendered image of Hyundai Motor`s hydrogen fuel cell truck. [Photo provided by Hyundai Motor Co.]
South Korea¡¯s Hyundai Motor Co. has clinched a milestone order to supply 1,000 hydrogen-powered trucks to Switzerland over the next five years, making its first inroad into Europe with clean-fuel heavy-duty vehicle.
The company said Thursday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Swiss hydrogen company H2 Energy (H2E) to provide 1,000 fuel cell electric trucks incrementally from 2019 during the ¡®IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018¡¯ in Hanover, Germany on Wednesday (local time). The company did not disclose the value of the contract.
Seven Swiss companies in May this year formed an association for leading hydrogen energy network in the country and H2E is responsible for developing and executing the association¡¯s hydrogen power projects. H2E will lease out Hyundai fuel cell trucks to the Swiss association¡¯s seven members, which includes gas stations and grocery store chains.
Hyundai Motor will be modifying its ¡®Xcient¡¯ heavy-duty trucks into fuel cell version compliant with European regulatory rules and standards. The new truck will feature new 190-kilowatt hydrogen system with two fuel cell stacks connected in parallel that can deliver a travel range of approximately 400 kilometers on a single charge, according to the company.
The latest deal gave traction to Korean automaker¡¯s drive to nurture hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle as its next-generation eco-friendly brand in the global race on green options to fossil fuel.
The company expects to gain an upper hand in hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle market as it takes a part of developing hydrogen-power network, said a Hyundai Motor official.
By Lee Seung-hoon and Cho Jeehyun
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