A project of eight Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks is introduced in wood transport, builds on green hydrogen and makes Uruguay a regional showcase for low-emission logistics.
Hyundai Motor has announced the commissioning of a fleet of eight XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks in Uruguay, South America’s first regular operation of hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks.
The initiative is a Cairo project part of which aims to decarbonize the country’s wood industry logistics and accelerate the spread of exhaust gas-free transport solutions.
This move puts Uruguay in a strategic position in the new race for clean fuels in freight transport. The country is considered a favorable terrain for this type of operation, as it provided 99% of its electricity production from renewable sources in 2024, according to official and industry data.
In practice, the project includes a complete infrastructure to support the operation. In addition to the trucks, Kahirós also includes a 4.8 MW solar power plant and an electrolysis plant capable of producing 77 tons of green hydrogen per year. The start of operation is planned for November 2026.
Hyundai said six trucks will make up the main fleet, while two more will be used as backup and to support future expansions. Under normal operation, the six main vehicles travel a total of nearly 1 million kilometers per year, primarily in the forestry and paper industry logistics chain.
The total investment value of the Kahirós project is 40 million US dollars, in which the Santander Group also participates, as well as support from the International Finance Corporation (World Bank) and the UN Renewable Energy Innovation Fund. The members of the local consortium are Ventus, Fraylog and Fidocar, Hyundai’s distributor in Uruguay.
From a technical point of view, a Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell it has two 90 kW fuel cell units with a total output of 180 kW, and a 350 kW electric motor, equivalent to 469 hp with 2,237 Nm of torque. The truck stores 68 kg of hydrogen in 10 tanks, uses a 72 kWh battery and can reach a range of up to 720 km under ideal conditions.
In addition to the regional premiere, the Uruguayan operation serves as a real-scale test for the use of hydrogen-powered trucks in South America. For Hyundai, the project strengthens the XCIENT Fuel Cell the global expansion of the ecosystem, which is already present in Europe and North America. For the region’s transportation industry, the message is clear: hydrogen is starting to move out of the promise stage and onto the roads.
Source and images: Hyundai Motor. This content is generated with the help of artificial intelligence and verified by the editors.
