Hyundai and Plus Unveil Autonomous Hydrogen Truck Concept

Anaheim, CA - Hyundai Motor Company and autonomous driving firm Plus unveiled a concept for hydrogen-powered self-driving trucks at a transportation expo on Tuesday, highlighting potential applications for long-haul freight in the United States.

The companies showcased their collaborative concept at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Anaheim through a video presentation featuring Hyundai's XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, equipped with Plus's autonomous driving software.

Their proposed implementation focuses on deploying vehicles along established freight corridors to support the development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

Jim Park, Senior Vice President at Hyundai Motor North America, said the company sees potential in combining fuel cell technologies with autonomous capabilities.

According to company figures, Hyundai currently operates 30 hydrogen-powered trucks at ports in California. 

These trucks have logged approximately 450,000 miles since September 2023.

The automaker also runs 21 similar vehicles at its Georgia manufacturing facility, handling about half of the plant's logistics operations with support from on-site hydrogen production.

The companies stated that the concept vehicles would produce zero tailpipe emissions while offering refueling and operational characteristics suited for long-haul transport applications.