Hyundai and Plus partner to demonstrate autonomous hydrogen truck

Hyundai Motor and autonomous software provider, Plus, recently unveiled the first Level 4 autonomous hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in the U.S, at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo. 

The Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell truck is equipped with the Plus SuperDrive Level 4 autonomous driving system, and is undergoing initial testing – the first Level 4 self-driving test with a Class 8 fuel cell truck to take place in the U.S.

According to Hyundai, the collaboration seeks to show that autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks can help make trucking safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.

“We are excited to showcase our collaboration with Plus to test Level 4 autonomous driving technology with our Class 8 XCIENT Fuel Cell truck,” said Martin Zeilinger, Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Development at Hyundai.

“Hyundai Motor has been driving the energy transition paradigm with our advanced fuel cell technologies. 

“By adding autonomous capabilities to our world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, Hyundai is looking forward to providing fleets and vehicle operators additional solutions that enhance road safety and freight efficiencies thanks to Plus’s industry-leading autonomous driving technology.”

Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell truck was first introduced in 2020, and since then has conducted commercial operations in eight countries worldwide, establishing a successful track record of real-world applications and technological reliability.

At last year’s ACT Expo, Hyundai introduced XCIENT Fuel Cell prime mover, the commercialised Class 8 6×4 fuel cell electric model, powered by two 90kW hydrogen fuel cell systems and a 350kW e-motor, providing a driving range of more than 724 km per charge – even when fully loaded.

Plus’s SuperDrive solution is being deployed across the U.S, Europe, and Australia. The system uses a combination of cutting-edge sensors, including LiDAR, radar and cameras, to provide surround perception, planning, prediction and self-driving capabilities.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Hyundai Motor Company on this important initiative to create more sustainable and safe transportation options,” said Shawn Kerrigan, COO and Co-Founder at Plus.

“A decarbonised future with autonomous hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks that also improve safety and efficiency is one that Plus is proud to support with our cutting-edge autonomous driving technology.”

Watch the autonomous fuel cell truck in action below…