NZ Post first Kiwi owner of Hyundai hydrogen-powered truck
The first of Hyundai New Zealand’s five XCIENT hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks has been snapped up by NZ Post.
The Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell truck was officially unveiled in its working livery by NZ Post at an event held at their Auckland Operations Centre and attended by Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods.
Heavy transport makes up four percent of New Zealand’s transport fleet but is responsible for 25 percent of all transport emissions.
Hyundai New Zealand CEO Andy
Sinclair says he’s delighted that NZ
Post, so committed to leading the way in sustainability, is the first to invest in this zero-emission transport technology.
“Heavy transport emissions are notoriously hard to offset, as electric battery vehicle alternatives can’t offer companies the same productivity. Larger trucks are driven all day, every day over long distances. Taking multiple hours to recharge a battery regularly is time the truck can’t be on the road. Hydrogen technology is an important solution for NZ Post and other similar businesses to introduce as part of reducing heavy freight emissions.”
This truck will take over from one of its emission-heavy diesel counterparts, saving an estimated 170 tonnes of CO2 per year from being emitted into our environment and displacing approximately 100 passenger cars emissions based on typical annual mileage.
High capacity hydrogen refuelling stations are on their way, such as Hiringa Energy’s four North Island stations coming online in early 2023. Until these first commercial refuelling stations are built, the truck will be fuelled using green hydrogen supplied by BOC.
BOC is proud to be collaborating with Hyundai and NZ Post to provide technical expertise and green hydrogen from our Glenbrook facility to get NZ Post’s first hydrogen truck on the road.
NZ Post’s Hyundai XCIENT Fuell Cell truck will now undergo a validation process and once the commercial infrastructure is in place next year, this truck’s ideal first operational route is likely to be Auckland – Hamilton – Auckland – Whangarei.
Taking ownership of a hydrogen truck is an exciting milestone, NZ Post Chief Executive Officer David Walsh says.
Investing in hydrogen fuel cell technology aligns perfectly with NZ Post’s goal of being a fully carbon neutral business from 2030.
Having introduced the world’s first mass-produced fuel-cell electric passenger vehicle, the ix35, and the second-generation fuel cell electric vehicle, the NEXO, Hyundai is now leveraging decades of experience, world-leading fuel-cell technology, and mass-production capability to advance hydrogen in the commercial vehicle sector with the XCIENT Fuel Cell.