Seoul: Hyundai Motor Co. announced Thursday that its Xcient heavy-duty hydrogen trucks have surpassed 20 million kilometers of cumulative operational driving across Europe since their launch. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the adoption of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles in the region.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the milestone was attained over a span of five years, with 165 Xcient trucks operating in Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Austria. This accomplishment underscores the potential of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) as viable alternatives to traditional internal combustion engine trucks in the commercial transport sector.

Hyundai Motor first introduced the Xcient trucks to the European market in Switzerland in October 2020. By June 2024, the fleet had already accumulated 10 million kilometers of driving in Switzerland alone, prompting expansion into additional European countries.

The South Korean automaker has estimated that, had a comparable fleet of diesel trucks covered the same distance, approximately 13,000 tons of carbon dioxide would have been emitted. "Hyundai Motor is reducing carbon emissions by working with global partners to deploy hydrogen fuel cell trucks across logistics, distribution and urban operations," stated Park Chul-youn, head of Hyundai Motor's global commercial vehicle business division.