Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell: Germany’s First Hydrogen-Powered Series Truck Hits the Road

In Germany, the first hydrogen-powered series truck is now on the road – it is from Hyundai and is being used by a medium-sized company in Baden-Württemberg. The truck, a Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell, can store around 31 kilograms of hydrogen in its seven tanks and also has an additional 72 kWh buffer battery. When fully tanked, it has a range of up to 400 kilometers. It is being leased by the Cologne start-up Hylane as part of their plan to create a fleet of 44 hydrogen trucks. There is still some debate about whether hydrogen power will be successful for trucks as there are other electric options such as Tesla’s semi truck which can reach 800 kilometers on one charge and Mercedes‘ eActros which has a range of 500 kilometers set to launch in 2024.

Hydrogen: The Most Abundant Element in the Universe

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, making up about 75% of all ordinary matter. Hydrogen has a single proton and a single electron, giving it an atomic number of 1. It is also the lightest element on the periodic table, with an atomic mass of 1.008 amu. Hydrogen gas is highly flammable and can be found in stars, as well as in many other places throughout our galaxy. Its uses range from powering rockets to powering fuel cells for cars and other vehicles. Hydrogen is also used to produce ammonia and methanol, which are important chemicals used in fertilizer production and industrial processes.
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Picture source: Terry Vlisidis