Hyundai starts exporting fuel cell systems to Europe

South Korean automotive manufacturer Hyundai Motor has started exporting its proprietary fuel cell systems to non-automotive companies in Europe.

The move highlights Hyundai Motor's technology and production capacity, which can support eco-friendly energy businesses. It also advances its strategy of becoming a smart mobility solution provider, with the fuel cell technology playing a crucial role.

Hyundai Motor has been working with Switzerland-based electricity storage technology firm GRZ Technologies since late last year to develop hydrogen storage technology. Using Hyundai Motor's fuel cell system, GRZ Technologies plans to develop a stationary power supply system for buildings, which can be used during peak electricity demand periods.

Hyundai Motor has also started delivering its fuel cell systems to an energy solutions start-up that manufactures electric generators. The start-up will use the fuel cell systems to produce mobile hydrogen generators. Other details of the start-up were unavailable.

Hyundai Motor introduced its first fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), the Santa Fe FCEV, in 2000. The firm recently shipped the first 10 units of XCIENT fuel cell, the world's first mass-produced fuel cell heavy-duty truck, to Switzerland.

Hyundai Motor in December 2018 announced its long-term roadmap, Fuel Cell Vision 2030, and reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the development of a hydrogen community by leveraging its global leadership in fuel cell technologies. As part of this plan, Hyundai Motor aims to develop 700,000 units/yr of production capacity for fuel cell systems used in automobiles, as well as in non-automotive applications such as vessels, rail cars, drones and power generators, by 2030.

The firm aims to increase its sales of EVs more than 11-fold by 2025 under a plan to become one of the world's dominant automakers in the fast-growing segment.