Hyundai and Cummins collaborate on hydrogen fuel cell technology

Hyundai Motor Company and American engine manufacturer Cummins have announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to “jointly evaluate opportunities to develop and commercialize electric and fuel cell powertrains”.

The new powertrains are expected to combine Hyundai’s fuel cell systems with Cummins’ electric powertrain, battery and control technologies.

Initially the development will focus on the North American commercial vehicle market, including working with OEMs on the integration of the systems into their CVs.

Leverage strengths

Thad Ewald, vice president, corporate strategy, Cummins Inc., said: “This partnership is a terrific opportunity for both companies to leverage our respective strengths and create new opportunities to grow and broaden the product portfolio we bring to our customers.

“We’ve made significant investments over the past year to accelerate our fuel cell capabilities including our acquisition of Hydrogenics and this partnership is another step forward.”

Leave a mark

Saehoon Kim, vice president and head of fuel cell group at Hyundai Motor Group, said: “With Hyundai’s global leadership in fuel cell systems coupled with Cummins’ unparalleled electrified powertrain technologies, we expect this partnership to leave a mark in the commercial vehicle market.

“Collaborations such as this will enable us to further diversify our business, as well as reinforce our global hydrogen leadership through sales of new and existing Hyundai fuel cell systems.”

The partnership will allow Hyundai to increase its presence in the North American commercial vehicle market, and Cummins to bolster its electrified power product offering by adding Hyundai’s advanced fuel cell technologies.

Fuel cell generators

Additionally, the collaboration may extend beyond the commercial vehicle market, as the companies will also “evaluate the development of fuel cell power generators”. Applications could include reliable back-up power generation to prevent data loss in emergency situations.

Hyundai recently announced that it has joined Ionity, the joint venture between BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, Daimler AG, and the Volkswagen Group with Porsche AG.

The group intends to make long-distance electric vehicle (EV) travel across Europe a possibility.

Ionity was founded in 2017, and it is hoping to fast track its plans to operate a High-Power Charging Network along the main highways in Europe.