Hyundai Motor Company Participates in North America 'Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Seminar'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Hyundai Motor Company has begun laying the groundwork to target the North American hydrogen commercial vehicle market by seeking opportunities to expand its hydrogen business at North America's largest hydrogen industry seminar, engaging with U.S. federal departments and global hydrogen companies.

Hyundai Motor announced on the 9th that it participated in the '2023 Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Seminar (HFCS)' held from the 7th to 9th of this month (local time) at the Long Beach Convention Center in California, USA.

The 'Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Seminar' is North America's largest hydrogen industry event with over 40 years of history, hosted by the U.S. Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) and supported by the U.S. government.

Korea was selected as the Host Country for the first time this year. During the event, Korea had opportunities such as setting up a dedicated promotional pavilion, hosting a special session for the Host Country, and holding the 'Korea-U.S. Hydrogen Public-Private Roundtable.'

On the 8th, Hyundai Motor attended the 'Korea-U.S. Hydrogen Public-Private Roundtable,' strengthening partnerships with various hydrogen-related organizations including the U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, and the California state government. They explored cooperation methods that could create synergy between both sides, including technology development with various local companies across the hydrogen value chain.

They also inquired about incentive policies in the clean energy sector such as hydrogen, emphasizing the need for U.S. government-level support for expanding hydrogen commercial vehicle demonstration projects and fuel cell dissemination.

Attendees of the 'Korea-U.S. Hydrogen Public-Private Roundtable' included Jeff Marootian, nominee for Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy; Grant Harris, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Industrial Analysis at the U.S. Department of Commerce; Jia Baeshin, Director of ZEV Market Development at the California state government; Frank Wolak, President of the U.S. Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association; as well as Korea's Okheon Lee, Director of the Hydrogen Economy Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Jaedo Moon, Chairman of the Global Hydrogen Industry Association Alliance (GHIAA).

On the 9th, during the 'Host Country Special Session,' Hyundai Motor introduced the 'California Port Eco-Friendly Truck Introduction Demonstration Project,' which supplies 30 Xcient hydrogen electric trucks to the Port of Oakland, USA, and plans to propose participation in hydrogen commercial vehicle demonstration projects to other state governments.

Frank Wollack, President of the U.S. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association (from the left), Mori Markowitz, Former President of the U.S. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association, Moon Jae-do, President of the World Hydrogen Council, Shin Seung-gyu, Executive Director at Hyundai Motor Company, and Lee Ok-heon, Director of the Hydrogen Economy Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, are taking a commemorative photo in front of the North American version of the Xcient hydrogen electric truck tractor exhibited at the 2023 Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Seminar (HFCS). Photo by Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai Motor was selected last September in the 'TAG Program,' an air pollution reduction program led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the second half of this year, Hyundai will supply five Xcient hydrogen electric trucks to replace existing diesel trucks used for hydrogen transport by First Element Fuel (FEF) in the U.S.

During the event, Hyundai displayed the North American version of the Xcient hydrogen electric truck tractor at the Korean promotional pavilion and introduced the 'Resource Circulation-Type Hydrogen Production Concept.'

The North American version of the Xcient hydrogen electric truck tractor is equipped with a 180kW-class hydrogen fuel cell system and a maximum output 350kW-class drive motor. It can travel up to 720 km on a single charge of 68 kg of hydrogen.

Hyundai's 'Resource Circulation-Type Hydrogen Production Concept' establishes a waste energy hydrogen production system by utilizing biogas extracted from organic waste such as food waste, livestock manure, and sewage sludge. By applying this to various sectors including transportation, industry, buildings, and power generation, it plans to promote the development of a clean hydrogen ecosystem. Hyundai Motor Group is currently conducting demonstration projects domestically with cities like Chungju and is considering expansion overseas to countries such as China and the U.S.

Furthermore, Hyundai Motor Group is reviewing a hydrogen energy business model that integrates the entire hydrogen value chain, including reforming, capture, storage and transportation, supply, and utilization, in addition to clean hydrogen production through the 'Resource Circulation-Type Hydrogen Production Concept.'

A Hyundai Motor official stated, "We plan to work closely with the government to maximize the use of beneficial provisions stipulated in various areas of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), such as expanding tax credits for commercial eco-friendly vehicles." He added, "We expect many practical opportunities to materialize that can visualize expanded cooperation in the hydrogen sector through high-level meetings with related agencies and companies such as the U.S. Department of Energy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.