Led by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), the NorCAL ZERO Project is part of a broader effort to decarbonize port operations in the region. Hyundai was selected as the final provider of eco-friendly commercial trucks for the project in 2021 and has since collaborated with the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) to build a hydrogen mobility value chain across North America.

As part of the project, Hyundai delivered 30 XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty trucks in the second half of last year to G.E.T Freight, a logistics subsidiary under Glovis America. This deployment represents the largest single supply of hydrogen-powered trucks to a North American fleet to date. The trucks are now actively replacing diesel vehicles in container transport at the Port of Oakland and vehicle transport at the Port of Richmond.

Supporting this initiative, Hyundai Capital America is offering competitive leasing and financing options for fleet operators, while Papé, a specialized truck service company in the western U.S., is providing maintenance and service operations.

In addition, FirstElement Fuel (FEF) recently completed the first large-scale hydrogen refueling station in Oakland, capable of servicing up to 200 hydrogen trucks per day, ensuring stable and efficient fuel supply. This enables Hyundai to establish a comprehensive hydrogen mobility value chain, encompassing infrastructure development, truck supply, financing, operations, and after-sales service.

According to CTE, the deployment of XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks through this project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 24,000 tons compared to conventional diesel trucks by the end of the project in 2028.

Hyundai plans to leverage this hydrogen ecosystem as a foundation for further expansion of its eco-friendly commercial vehicle business in North America. As part of this initiative, Hyundai will supply an additional five hydrogen electric trucks to California in the first half of this year, under the Targeted Airshed Grants (TAG) program, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

¡°This project marks a major step forward in realizing Hyundai¡¯s vision for a hydrogen-powered society,¡± said Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Business at Hyundai Motor Company. ¡°It demonstrates a groundbreaking achievement in the transportation sector's shift toward clean energy and lays the foundation for future port decarbonization efforts.¡±

Meanwhile, Hyundai has begun Level 4 autonomous driving tests on its XCIENT Fuel Cell truck in partnership with autonomous driving technology company Plus. The tests, currently underway in the U.S., aim to enhance safety and improve freight efficiency by integrating advanced self-driving systems into hydrogen-powered trucks.