Hyundai HDC-6 Neptune Concept, the hydrogen-powered truck that aims to change freight transport

Zero-emission mobility is evolving rapidly and it doesn’t only affect passenger cars. Trucks are also benefiting from the advantages of this technology, although for heavy-duty transport vehicles it is considerably more complicated and requires solutions different from those used for cars. Hyundai wants to enter this business and has therefore presented a hydrogen-powered truck to make emission-free freight transport possible.

The first thing that catches the eye about this truck is its design. It is based on the Art Deco trains that ran on US railways in the 1930s, designed by Henry Dreyfuss. A style that has been updated and that has shaped the image of this truck, somewhere between futuristic and a tribute to those classic locomotives. The front of the semi-trailer tractor features a large windscreen that offers excellent visibility from the cab. On the sides there are two mirrors that capture images and display them on a screen inside the cab.

The Art Deco design serves not only an aesthetic purpose, but also hides important elements of the truck. At the lower section there is a grille that runs along the entire body of the semi-trailer tractor, which conceals things such as retractable steps that are invisible when folded away and very practical for climbing into the cab. Hyundai has not wished to give more details about the equipment of this fuel-cell-powered truck fed with hydrogen, but the Korean brand is convinced that this type of solution is the best option for heavy-duty transport.

The costs of this type of electric mobility differ from other types of zero-emission mobility. The main advantages are the greater driving range, the higher payload capacity and faster refuelling than in the case of a battery electric vehicle.

But this truck is not all that Hyundai will present at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show, as it will also showcase a refrigerated trailer that works through cryogenic nitrogen. This system saves energy because it cools down faster than by other means and allows better vehicle performance.