© Hyundai

Hyundai Motor Company used the ACT Expo 2025 in Anaheim to make a clear statement: hydrogen trucking isn’t hypothetical—it’s already on the road. The company unveiled its new XCIENT Fuel Cell Class 8 truck built specifically for the North American market, signaling a serious push into zero-emission freight transport where batteries face limits.

The truck, now in production form after U.S. testing since 2021, delivers 350 kW of power through a hydrogen fuel cell system composed of two 90 kW stacks and a 72 kWh battery. With a total of 10 tanks holding 68 kg of hydrogen, it reaches up to 450 miles of range under practical conditions. Hyundai says this performance has been verified across multiple U.S. climates and duty cycles.

This isn’t a one-off demonstration or a pilot program waiting on infrastructure. Hyundai is already operating 30 of these trucks in California ports and another 21 at its Metaplant America facility in Georgia. The Georgia site produces hydrogen on location, powering half of the plant’s logistics traffic and creating a functioning closed-loop hydrogen system.

© Hyundai

Ken Ramirez, Executive VP and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Business at Hyundai, said: “The future of clean logistics demands more than just ambition – it demands action. By combining cutting-edge technologies with real operational partnerships, we’re delivering solutions that fleets can actually deploy today.”

Infrastructure Commitment: HTWO Energy Savannah

The key roadblock for hydrogen in trucking has long been infrastructure. Hyundai’s response is the launch of HTWO Energy Savannah, the first hydrogen refueling and EV charging station designed for Class 8 trucks. Located near the Metaplant in Georgia and built with HydroFleet and Capital Development Partners, the station is set to open before the end of 2025. It’s intended not only to support Hyundai’s fleet but also to enable third-party operators to refuel long-haul trucks reliably and quickly.

HTWO, Hyundai’s hydrogen brand, is expanding into a platform designed to bring in partners across the hydrogen value chain—from production to storage and distribution. The goal is clear: to scale hydrogen logistics into a viable commercial solution across markets, not just showcase it at expos.

North America Focus, Global Implications

Hyundai’s new XCIENT truck is a direct response to critics who argue hydrogen is too inefficient or too late. With over 13 million kilometers logged in Switzerland and a growing footprint in the U.S., Hyundai is positioning hydrogen not as a competitor to battery trucks, but as a complement—especially for long-haul and high-demand applications where batteries fall short.

By pairing truck deployments with concrete infrastructure development and on-site hydrogen generation, Hyundai is taking the kind of integrated approach the industry has been demanding. The message at ACT Expo was clear: the hydrogen trucking future isn’t years away—it’s already moving freight in California and Georgia.