On September 27 local time, Hyundai Motor Company and Cummins Inc. announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly evaluate opportunities for the development of electric and fuel cell power systems and the commercialization of such systems .
Hyundai and Cummins are both global leaders in powertrain systems. The two companies are expected to combine modern fuel cell systems with Cummins' electric powertrain, batteries and control technologies to develop new powertrains. The initial development of the powertrain will target the North American commercial vehicle market, including working with North American OEMs to integrate such systems into their vehicles.
The two companies will also explore ways to co-develop next-generation fuel cell systems, and promise to assign a team of people to investigate and collaborate in other areas.
The partnership will provide Hyundai Motors with a springboard to expand its presence in the North American commercial vehicle market, and Cummins can enhance its electrified product portfolio by acquiring modern advanced fuel cell technology.
As the two companies are also evaluating the development of fuel cell generators, the scope of cooperation may extend beyond the commercial vehicle market. In emergency situations, reliable backup power prevents data loss and is a business-critical requirement for many organizations. Fuel cell backup generators are attractive because they reduce their carbon footprint.
The global fuel cell market is booming
The signing of the memorandum by the two parties comes at a time when global demand for fuel cells is increasing. Hydrogen can be generated from renewable energy sources and is also very economical to store. It can be used in a variety of industrial and residential energy production applications, as well as in fuel cell passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Energy experts predict that in the face of rising global energy demand, hydrogen will become increasingly important while reducing carbon emissions from energy production.
Hyundai Motor is a global leader in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology. In 2013, it opened the world's first commercial production base for fuel cell vehicles, and in 2015 launched the world's first commercial hydrogen-powered vehicle, Tucson fuel cell vehicle. Hyundai ’s second-generation fuel cell model NEXO has a range of over 610 kilometers and is a multifunctional, three-row SUV that emits only clean water vapor during driving and can even purify the air.
Modern fuel cell systems consist of a fuel cell stack and other sub-components (collectively referred to as supporting components BoP). The fuel cell stack is capable of converting stored hydrogen into electricity, and in other integrated processes of power generation, supporting components are used for thermal management and air supply.
Cummins is a global leader in advanced power systems.In 2018, it launched the electrified power business unit (Electrified Power), which is responsible for the design and production of pure electric and hybrid power systems, as well as innovative components and subsystems to serve businesses that adopt electrified technologies. market. As of now, the company has launched complete electrified power system solutions for 7 applications in 6 markets, and continues to work with global customers to launch market-leading products.