As part of their ongoing partnership, Hyundai Motor Company and autonomous driving software specialist Plus have unveiled the first Level 4 autonomous Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in the USA.
The announcement took place at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas, an event for clean transportation technology and fleet management in North America.
Hyundai Motor’s XCIENT Fuel Cell truck is equipped with Plus’s Level 4 SuperDrive autonomous driving system. It is undergoing initial autonomous driving tests in the US, marking the first Level 4 autonomous trial for a Class 8 fuel cell electric truck in the country.
The partners say that their aim is to demonstrate how autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks can enhance safety, efficiency and sustainability in the trucking industry.
“A decarbonized future with autonomous hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks that also improve safety and efficiency is one that Plus is proud to support with our cutting-edge autonomous driving technology,” said Shawn Kerrigan, COO and co-founder at Plus.
Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, first introduced in 2020, has been used in commercial operations across eight countries, which the company says proves its reliability and practical application.
Plus’ SuperDrive system, deployed in the US, Europe and Australia, uses advanced sensors including lidar, radar and cameras to enable surround perception, planning, prediction and autonomous driving capabilities.
“We are excited to showcase our collaboration with Plus to test Level 4 autonomous driving technology with our Class 8 XCIENT Fuel Cell truck,” said Martin Zeilinger, executive vice president and head of commercial vehicle development at Hyundai.
“By adding autonomous capabilities to our world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, Hyundai is looking forward to providing fleets and vehicle operators with additional solutions that enhance road safety and freight efficiencies thanks to Plus’s industry-leading autonomous driving technology.”