Sound out the name of Hyundai's latest venture —a brand it is calling HTWO ("H-2") — and it reveals the automaker's new solution to cut carbon emissions.
HTWO will promote the use of the H2 hydrogen molecule in developing and promoting hydrogen fuel cell systems for various transportation applications, Hyundai said last week.
Hyundai Motor Co. is one of only a few global players pursuing fuel cell technology. The initiative is part of what CEO Wonhee Lee said is the company's plan to spend some $55.3 billion on new technologies through 2025.
"The launch of the new fuel cell system brand will help facilitate Hyundai's global fuel cell business and grow the hydrogen ecosystem," Hyundai said in a release.
The idea is to expand applications beyond passenger vehicles to trucks, ships, trains and even urban air mobility, a new area of focus for Hyundai. The company will develop a next-generation fuel cell system under the HTWO brand umbrella for all these applications.
"Not only will the next-generation fuel cell system be available for many different mobility products and services, it will deliver enhanced performance and durability at an affordable price in a lighter architecture with enhanced energy density," Hyundai said. "The company aims to offer a highly efficient and diversified lineup of hydrogen-powered vehicles."
In updating its 2025 business plan last week, Hyundai said it will introduce an unmanned aircraft system for air cargo, using a hybrid powertrain, by 2026. An all-electric urban air model for intracity operations will follow in 2028, with another model for regional air travel between cities in the 2030s.
Hyundai's strategy mirrors that of Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp., which last week debuted its own new-generation fuel cell system in the redesigned Mirai sedan.
In October, Hyundai delivered its new Xcient Fuel Cell, a cab-over truck Hyundai calls the world's first mass-produced fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck. At the time, Hyundai outlined a global road map for rolling out thousands of fuel cell trucks, including 12,000 units in the U.S. by 2030.
Hyundai introduced its original fuel cell technology on the Tucson crossover in 2013 and has expanded offerings to include the Xcient, a bus and the Nexo fuel cell crossover.