Hyundai Motor Company announced that its XCIENT Fuel Cell Class-8 heavy-duty truck fleet has surpassed 20 million kilometers driven across Europe. The milestone was reached in January 2026, with 165 units operating across five countries: Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Austria. The fleet’s accumulated distance over five years highlights the viability of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) as replacements for internal combustion engines in commercial transportation.
Highlights
- 165 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks have collectively driven 20 million kilometers across five European countries since first launching in Switzerland in October 2020.
- Estimated CO₂ reduction equals approximately 12,885 tons compared to equivalent diesel operations — the equivalent of carbon absorbed annually by roughly 1.5 million pine trees.
- 63 units now operate in North America, surpassing approximately 1.6 million kilometers since the region’s 2023 debut.
- An upgraded XCIENT Fuel Cell truck launched in 2025 features an improved hydrogen fuel cell system tested since 2021 across various climates and use cases.
European Operations Expand Across Multiple Sectors
XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks first launched in Switzerland in October 2020 and reached 10 million kilometers of cumulative driving distance in that country by June 2024. Consistent performance has driven expansion into new regions and a growing range of applications.
Current European deployments span multiple industries and vehicle configurations:
- Switzerland — Food, beverage and clothing logistics
- Germany — Logistics across supermarket chains, textile companies and major fleet operators
- France — Retail chain logistics, refuse trucks and crane trucks equipped with electric power take-off (ePTO) solutions
- Netherlands — Tarpaulin truck supplied to a construction materials distributor
- Austria — Reefer van integrated into supermarket chain operations
Compared with a fleet of equivalent diesel trucks, XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks offset an estimated 13,000 tons of CO₂ over the 20-million-kilometer distance. That figure is equivalent to the amount of carbon absorbed annually by approximately 1.5 million pine trees, based on calculations using 2006 IPCC Guidelines and Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry averages.
Upgraded 2025 Model
Hyundai Motor launched the new XCIENT Fuel Cell truck in 2025, featuring an upgraded hydrogen fuel cell system. The vehicle underwent rigorous testing since 2021 to ensure suitability across a range of climates and use cases, including port transportation and medium-distance logistics.
“Hyundai Motor is reducing carbon emissions by working with global partners to deploy hydrogen fuel cell trucks across various sectors such as logistics, distribution and urban public operations. Starting with our initial operations in Switzerland, we have expanded our presence across multiple regions in Europe while achieving visible progress in North America as well. Our hydrogen commercial vehicles continue to demonstrate their value as mobility solutions for a more advanced future, helping build the hydrogen ecosystem and expanding their global impact.” — Chul Youn Park, Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Light Commercial Vehicle Business Division, Hyundai Motor Company
North American Deployments Surpass 1.6 Million Kilometers
A total of 63 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks are currently in operation across North America, collectively surpassing approximately 1.6 million kilometers of accumulated driving since their regional debut in 2023.
Key deployments include:
- California — The NorCAL ZERO Project — The largest hydrogen truck deployment in North America, operating 30 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks at the Ports of Oakland
- Georgia — HTWO Logistics — 21 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks support logistics at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America under the HTWO Logistics initiative with GLOVIS America
- British Columbia, Canada — BC Hydrogen Ports Project — The province’s first major initiative to adopt hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies in the shipping and transportation sectors
Visit the Hyundai Media Hub for additional information.
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