Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility Grabs ‘Watt d’Or 2021’ for Advancing Swiss Decarbonization Efforts.

Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility and its business partners were recognized on January 7th with the “Watt d’Or 2021,” an annual accolade by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy that honours innovative energy champions in Switzerland.

Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility and its business partners – Hydrospider AG, H2 Energy AG, and Association pro H2 Mobility Switzerland Association – were conferred the prestigious distinction in the “Energy-efficient Mobility” category for their advancements in energizing the nation’s hydrogen-powered commercial mobility sector.

Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility was established in April 2019 as a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Company and H2 Energy AG. Its main business activity is renting out emission-free commercial vehicles (Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty truck) with the aim of decarbonizing the commercial mobility ecosystems of Switzerland and the broader Europe.

The partnership between Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility and the aforementioned companies has been dubbed the “Hydrogen Champions League” for introducing hydrogen to freight transport and logistics, as well as creating a new business model encompassing hydrogen-powered trucks, hydrogen refuelling stations and hydrogen production and shipping.

Currently in Switzerland, the coalition has 50 units of Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell – the world’s first fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck – which are in the process of being rented out to commercial customers, and the plan is to have 1,600 XCIENT units in operations by 2025.

“We are very proud that the Swiss Federal Office of Energy has recognized our effort to establish the first commercially-viable zero-emission hydrogen network,” said Mark Freymüller, CEO of Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility. “Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility has always advocated that the future of mobility has to be a mix of different technologies, with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles playing a major role alongside battery electric vehicles. We are happy that we are able to demonstrate what this vision looks like in reality here in Switzerland, and we will continue to do so in the future.”

With its emission-free hydrogen cycle, the private-sector initiative is making a major contribution to Switzerland’s decarbonization efforts in the heavy-goods transport industry; a fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck annually travelling around 80,000 kilometres achieves yearly savings of 64 to 65 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, by producing green hydrogen exclusively from renewable energies such as hydro, solar and wind, the coalition has tangibly boosted the supply and demand for hydrogen in an eco-friendly, emission-free way.

For Hyundai Motor Company, the recognition of Watt d’Or 2021 serves as a reminder of its advanced fuel cell technological prowess and its commercial viability. Hyundai Motor, via Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, has demonstrated that a unique cooperation between different partners can bring about a hydrogen economy much sooner and more productively than previously thought.

Hyundai Motor has long regarded hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles as a vital component of future mobility alongside battery electric vehicles. Like diesel and gasoline cars, hydrogen and battery electric vehicles go side by side in a future of emission-free mobility solutions. One pioneering innovation in recent days comes from the Hyundai Veloster ETCR electric motorsport car, which is powered by a hydrogen generator. This advanced breakthrough, using hydrogen as a storage medium, will pave the way for the environment-conscious, electrified motorsport world.

Seen more broadly, Hyundai Motor has invested significant energy in nurturing a worldwide hydrogen society as part of its global hydrogen strategy. With the simultaneous increase in refuelling capabilities and progress in fuel cell technology, the company plans to produce 700,000 units of fuel cell systems annually by 2030.

Hyundai Motor recently added the “H2 Solution” pillar to the company’s “Strategy 2025” roadmap as part of its efforts to further advance its hydrogen fuel cell technology. The company has also introduced “HTWO” – a new brand to represent Hyundai Motor’s world-leading capabilities in next-generation hydrogen fuel cell systems for various mobility solutions such as urban air mobility devices, automobiles, vessels and trains.

About Watt d’Or

The Watt d’Or was first awarded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in 2007 as a seal of excellence recognizing outstanding products and services innovations in the energy sector. Its purpose is to draw attention to noteworthy projects, people and organizations that are making exemplary headways in Switzerland’s future-oriented energy landscape.