A project consisting of eight Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks will be used to transport wood, making Uruguay a regional base for low-emission logistics based on green hydrogen.
Hyundai Motor Company announced that it has begun operating a fleet of eight XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks in Uruguay, marking the first regular operation of hydrogen fuel cell-based large trucks in South America.
This project Kahirós ProjectAs part of this, it aims to decarbonise the country’s wood logistics and accelerate the introduction of zero-emission transport solutions.
The move puts Uruguay in a strategic position as competition for clean fuels heats up in freight transport. Uruguay is a country that will produce 99% of its electricity from renewable energy in 2024, and is evaluated to have an environment very suitable for such operations.
In fact, the project includes a complete infrastructure to support operations. In addition to trucks, a 4.8 MW solar power plant and an electrolysis facility capable of producing 77 tons of green hydrogen per year will be built, and operation is scheduled to begin in November 2026.
According to Hyundai, six trucks will make up the main fleet, while the remaining two will be used as spares and support vehicles for future expansion. During normal operation, the six flagship units travel approximately 1 million km per year and are mainly used for forestry and paper industry logistics.
The Kahirós project has a total investment of US$40 million and is supported by Santander Group, the World Bank’s IFC, and the United Nations Renewable Energy Innovation Fund. The local consortium consists of Ventus, Fraylog, and Fidocar, Hyundai Motor Company’s Uruguayan distributor.
technically Hyundai XCIENT Fuel CellIt is equipped with two 90kW fuel cell stacks (total of 180kW), a 350kW electric motor (approximately 469 horsepower), and a torque of 2,237Nm. It also stores 68kg of hydrogen in 10 tanks, uses a 72kWh battery, and can drive up to 720km under ideal conditions.
This Uruguay project is more than just the first case in the region, it also serves as a test stage to verify the scale of actual use of hydrogen trucks in South America. From Hyundai Motor’s perspective, it has already been built in Europe and North America. XCIENT Fuel Cell It has the meaning of expanding the ecosystem globally. It sends a clear message to the local transportation industry. Hydrogen is no longer just a future technology, but is starting to hit the road.
Source and image: Hyundai Motor. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
