Dive Brief:
- Hyundai Motor Group plans to open a Class 8 hydrogen production and dispensing facility, located 10 miles from the Port of Savannah, Georgia, the company announced in a press release.
- The more than $30 million refueling station — dubbed HTWO Energy Savannah — is expected to generate 1,200 kilograms of hydrogen per day to support zero-emission, heavy-duty trucking operations in the region.
- The initial phase of the company’s plans is set to begin operations in late fall. Phase two will establish a dual-energy facility with the added capability of commercial electric vehicle charging.
Dive Insight:
HTWO Energy Savannah will serve Hyundai’s new $12.6 billion metaplant, an electric and hybrid vehicle production and battery manufacturing facility in Ellabell, Georgia, roughly 20 miles from Savannah.
The company will utilize Xcient hydrogen-powered trucks to service the metaplant. In March, Hyundai partner Benore Logistics announced that 10 Xcient trucks hit the road in Savannah, offering an all-electric range of nearly 250 miles.
Jim Park, SVP of commercial vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell business for Hyundai Motor North America, called the production and refueling station a “breakthrough” for the heavy-duty trucking industry.
“The HTWO Energy Savannah hydrogen station will also truly fulfill our vision for HMGMA Clean Logistics, allowing our innovative new electric vehicle plant to transport plant shipments within a clean, zero-emissions ecosystem,” he said in the release.
While Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America will initially produce 300,000 vehicles annually, it is expected to build up to 500,000 EVs and hybrids for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands.
Likewise, HTWO Energy Savannah also has the infrastructure needed to scale. If demand increases in the future, the site can support up to 4,200 kilograms of hydrogen per day, including the accommodation of a variety of passenger and delivery vehicles.
“Hyundai views this model as a benchmark example for the future and has a vision for various potential applications in the U.S., including other Hyundai plants and operations,” the company said in an email to Trucking Dive.
Additionally, the company’s hydrogen team said a key lesson in this trucking deployment is the importance of affordable hydrogen.
”Utilizing modular SMR units allows us to match supply and demand, which yields affordable hydrogen prices to consumers and helps drive growth in the overall hydrogen economy,” the company said in the email.
