10 March, 2021 – Each year the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund (LEVCF) offers up to $6.5 million to projects that will accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and other low emission vehicles. 

Round 9 of the Government’s LEVCF, which is administered by EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) was announced last month, with Hyundai New Zealand receiving $500,000 towards its hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) truck project.

The co-funding will help support Hyundai New Zealand to purchase and deploy an initial fleet of five zero emission hydrogen FCEV trucks into New Zealand and enter real-world daily logistics operations.

Hyundai New Zealand General Manager Andy Sinclair says, “We’re pleased to have received funding from the LEVCF to help us progress with the future introduction of FCEV trucks into New Zealand.

We have long been a champion locally for the use of electric vehicles and alternative fuel technologies, and now have an opportunity to help fast track the large scale adoption of alternative green fuels in the New Zealand road freight sector.”

The aim of the project is to demonstrate FCEVs as a heavy duty, reliable, cost effective replacement for diesel trucks and produce evidence of which contexts they have advantages over battery electric, being primarily longer range, shorter refuelling time and greater payload.  

Mr. Sinclair adds, “The project will allow us to gain insight with vehicle efficiencies and driving range while in-service with two types of configurations in the form of a rigid truck application and/or combination trailer towing applications.”

EECA’s Transport Portfolio Manager Richard Briggs says, “EECA considered there was value in supporting the project, as it will provide rich data on the viability, supply of fuel and vehicles and operational cost comparatives in the New Zealand heavy freight transport context.” 

Hyundai Motor Company and Swiss company H2 Energy with the help and support of the Swiss Government entered into a joint venture and formed the Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility in 2019. The first shipment of Fuel Cell Electric Trucks (known as XCIENT FCEV) are in operation on Swiss roads as part of a 1600 unit delivery programme by 2025.

With the production of the XCIENT FCEV for Switzerland, this has enabled Hyundai New Zealand to work closely with Hyundai Motor Company to order a minimum of five Fuel Cell Electric (FCEV) Trucks.

Hyundai is expecting to receive the first XCIENT FCEV by the end of the year, whereby it will then undergo some local modifications to further suit New Zealand requirements before entering the trial programme.

In early 2022, the Hyundai XCIENT FCEV will be introduced into an on-road (in-service) trial programme with some progressive New Zealand companies committed to leading the de-carbonisation of the transport and logistics sector. This will ensure that multiple major New Zealand truck fleets become directly familiar with FCEV trucks to allow them to consider replacing their diesel trucks with clean alternatives. Every XCIENT FCEV reduces approximately 62-tonne* of CO2 per year from being emitted into our environment.

These heavy-duty FCEV trucks once on the road will make use of Hyundai’s own local refueller based in Auckland and utilising other hydrogen refuelling stations from other local partners once they are operational.

*Based on 80,000kms per year

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