Hyundai Construction Equipment’s innovative hydrogen fuel cell project

First published at CONEXPO-CON/AGG - March 11, 2020

Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel cell project

Hyundai Construction Equipment (HCE) is working on a project to develop hydrogen fuel cell power for excavators and forklifts. The project is being carried out in partnership with Hyundai Motors, and the group hopes to have a product market ready by 2023.

According to the firm, hydrogen fuel cells suit large construction machines because they offer a greater power density than batteries. The firm also believes that hydrogen fuel cells also offer the ability to upscale machines with ease…and can do it far better than all-electric machines powered by lithium batteries.

A fuel cell works by producing electricity from the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The electricity generated then becomes the power source. Since the only resulting emission is water vapour, this makes it a very clean fuel enabling manufacturers like Hyundai to meet the toughest-possible air pollution requirements.

The firm says that this agreement should give Hyundai Construction Equipment the opportunity to take a leading role in the hydrogen-powered equipment market. It will also put the firm in a strong position to assist in establishing a global standard for industrial fuel cell power units.

Hyundai Construction Equipment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the joint-development of hydrogen fuel cell construction equipment with Hyundai Motors and Hyundai Mobis at its Mabuk Research Center in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do. This will see the three companies developing medium/large-capacity excavators (as well as forklifts) featuring fuel cell power units.

According to the MOU, Hyundai Motors and Hyundai Mobis will design and manufacture hydrogen fuel cell systems, including power packs. Meanwhile, Hyundai Construction Equipment will design, manufacture, and evaluate the performance of the machines.

According to Hwang Jong-hyun, head of the R&D division of Hyundai Material Handling at Hyundai Construction Equipment: “With this latest agreement, we’ve prepared a foundation upon which we can secure core technology in hydrogen-powered construction equipment ahead of our competitors.

“Hyundai Construction Equipment will do its very best to meet the challenges that lie ahead as countries around the world attempt to establish global standards in terms of certifying the performance of equipment and legislating relevant laws for the commercialisation of hydrogen-powered construction equipment.”

Hyundai Motors already has considerable experience with hydrogen fuel cell technology and the partners believe that this move will be instrumental in establishing a hydrogen-based ecosystem for the construction equipment sector.

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