[월간수소경제 박상우 기자] Hyundai Motor Company’s XCIENT Fuel Cell will be used to improve air quality in California, USA.
Hyundai Motor Company has been selected for the ‘2021 TAG (Targeted Airshed Grants)’ program contest hosted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and plans to supply five Xient hydrogen electric trucks to California in the third quarter of 2023 work said
The TAG program started in 2015 led by the US EPA, and is a funding program that EPA receives and supports projects from air quality management agencies under each region or state with the goal of reducing air pollution across the United States.
When the agency selects a partner and applies for a project in the form of a consortium, the EPA finally approves regarding 10 projects and provides subsidies.
In the 2021 TAG program, Hyundai Motor participated in a project hosted by the Southern Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in California with FirstElement Fuel (FEF), a US company specializing in building and operating hydrogen charging stations. .
SCAQMD, an air quality management agency under the California state government, proposed to Hyundai Motor and FEF to replace the diesel truck for hydrogen transportation operated by the FEF in California with an Xient hydrogen electric truck, and both companies accepted the project and the project was completed.
The project was highly evaluated by the EPA in terms of emissions reduction effect, technology, and sustainability, and finally won a subsidy of $3.5 million (regarding 4.8 billion won).
Hyundai Motor plans to sign a contract with FEF in the future and supply hydrogen electric trucks in the third quarter of 2023. The vehicle will be put into commercial operation in earnest following undergoing a one-year mandatory demonstration project in California.
Hyundai Motor Company was also selected as one of the final suppliers in the ‘California Port Eco-Friendly Truck Introduction Project (NorCAL ZERO)’ bid hosted by the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission last year. From the second quarter, a total of 30 hydrogen electric trucks will be supplied.
Following last year, through the final selection of the 2021 TAG program, Hyundai once once more proved the excellent technology and eco-friendliness of the Xient hydrogen electric truck. In particular, it is significant in that it has been recognized by the EPA, a federal government agency that oversees environmental and automobile emissions-related work in the United States.