Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group revealed the rendered image of its concept for a hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric truck, HDC-6 NEPTUNE, that will be shown at a commercial vehicle show in Atlanta.

Hyundai Motor said in a statement that it would hold a press conference on October 29 at the Georgia World Congress Center to reveal its concept. The North American Commercial Vehicle Show showcases products like trucks, trailers and cargo handling and restraint products. 

"With the introduction of HDC-6 NEPTUNE, in addition to the road-proven Xcient fuel cell truck, we expand our technology leadership into the commercial vehicle sector by unveiling our vision of how fuel cell electric trucks can resolve the environmental equations of widely used commercial vehicles and our commitment to create a decarbonized society," Hyundai's commercial vehicle division head Edward Lee was quoted as saying.

HDC-6 Neptune's design draws inspiration from the streamliner railway trainsets of the 1930s with its Art Deco function-driven style, Hyundai said, adding the design team found new ways to combine both form and function to create an entirely unique new solution within the commercial vehicle industry.

The Hyundai auto group leads a government campaign to replace combustion engines gradually with hydrogen fuel cells and electric batteries. South Korea has unveiled a roadmap to secure its firm leadership in the global market by producing 6.2 million fuel cell vehicles by 2040. Hyundai has touted hydrogen fuel as an alternative to solve global problems such as pollution and restore resource depletion because of its eco-friendly characteristics.

In April, Hyundai agreed to set up a joint venture with Swiss hydrogen company H2 Energy (H2E) and provide 1,600 fuel-cell electric trucks for seven years by 2025. H2E will lease out 1,600 Hyundai fuel cell trucks by 2025. Hyundai will modify its Xcient heavy-duty trucks that can deliver a travel range of about 400 kilometers (248 miles) on a single charge.

In September, Hyundai partnered with Cummins Inc., an American engine maker, to develop electric and fuel cell powertrains initially for the North American commercial vehicle market and explore ways to develop next-generation fuel cell systems. Collaboration may extend beyond the commercial vehicle market as the two companies will evaluate the development of fuel cell power generators.