Hyundai Motor Company and autonomous driving software leader Plus have unveiled the first Level 4 autonomous Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in the United States, showcasing it at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo—the largest advanced clean transportation and fleet event in North America.
The collaboration brings together Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell truck and Plus’s SuperDrive™ Level 4 autonomous driving technology. The truck is on display at Plus’s ACT Expo booth (#2044) and is undergoing initial autonomous driving assessments in the U.S., marking the first Level 4 self-driving test for a Class 8 fuel cell electric truck in the country. The initiative aims to demonstrate how autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks can enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in trucking.
“We are excited to showcase our collaboration with Plus to test Level 4 autonomous driving technology with our Class 8 XCIENT Fuel Cell truck,” said Martin Zeilinger, Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Development at Hyundai.
“Hyundai Motor has been driving the energy transition paradigm with our advanced fuel cell technologies. By integrating autonomous capabilities into the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, we can provide fleets and operators with solutions that enhance road safety and freight efficiency, leveraging Plus’s industry-leading autonomous technology,” Zeilinger added.
First introduced in 2020, the XCIENT Fuel Cell truck has already conducted commercial operations in eight countries, proving its real-world reliability. The Class 8 6×4 model, powered by two 90kW hydrogen fuel cell systems and a 350kW electric motor, delivers a driving range of over 450 miles (724 kilometers) per charge, even when fully loaded.
Plus’s SuperDrive™ system, deployed across the U.S., Europe, and Australia, combines advanced sensors—including LiDAR, radar, and cameras—to provide surround perception, planning, prediction, and autonomous driving capabilities.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Hyundai Motor Company on this initiative to create more sustainable and safe transportation options,” said Shawn Kerrigan, COO and Co-Founder at Plus. “A decarbonized future with autonomous hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks that also improve safety and efficiency is one that Plus is proud to support with our cutting-edge autonomous driving technology.”
