Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel-cell powered truck and New Holland’s near-zero emissions tractor to help reduce emissions in transportation and agriculture.
TULARE, Calif., February 14, 2023 – Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) joins Hyundai Motor Company and New Holland Agriculture North America at the annual World Ag Expo this week in displaying two breakthrough, first-of-their-kind technologies. SoCalGas’ booth will showcase Hyundai’s Class 8 XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty truck, equipped with a 180 kW fuel cell system and an e-motor with a maximum output of 350 kW, to support the demands of commercial fleet users. The booth will also display New Holland’s T6.180 Methane Power tractor, the first commercially available tractor powered by a sustainable fuel source in agriculture, operating on renewable natural gas (RNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG).
“Experts and policymakers are recognizing that a broad set of tools, including clean fuels like renewable natural gas and clean renewable hydrogen, and carbon management, are needed to achieve California’s climate and air goals by 2045,” says Don Widjaja, vice president of customer solutions at SoCalGas. “SoCalGas is excited to partner with New Holland and Hyundai at the World Ag Expo to highlight technologies that are not only clean but can also effectively meet the transportation needs of the agricultural industry.”
SoCalGas continues to move forward in its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. The company has already achieved a 37% reduction in fugitive methane emissions, surpassing the State’s goal of 20% by 2025, and is nearing the State’s goal of a 40% reduction by 2030. SoCalGas has also set a benchmark to operate a 100% zero-emissions over-the-road fleet by 2035, and its Angeles Link project could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from hard-to-electrify parts of the California economy like heavy-duty trucking.
Hyundai Motor Company is also playing a crucial role in creating an emissions-free, hydrogen fuel cell heavy duty truck ecosystem. The XCIENT Fuel Cell tractor model has a driving range of up to 450 miles, requires less time to refuel than its electric counterpart, which helps maximize efficiency, and produces only a single byproduct: pure H2O. The truck features an extremely robust hydrogen storage tank with multiple levels of protection to safeguard against accidental leaks and punctures.
“XCIENT Fuel Cell is the world’s first heavy-duty fuel cell truck to accumulate more than 3.5 million miles of real-life customer driven operations in Switzerland,” said Mark Freymueller, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Business Innovation of Hyundai Motor Company. “Based on our successful operations and diverse array of public-private partnerships, we will continue to leverage our insights to drive commercial vehicle decarbonization and accelerate the transition to a sustainable hydrogen society.”
New Holland, a clean energy leader in the development of renewable fuels and emissions reduction systems, introduced its breakthrough sustainable agriculture technology to the U.S. market last year. “The T6.180 Methane Power tractor is an important step forward on the path to decarbonizing agriculture in California. It allows farmers to grow crops and use agricultural waste to generate RNG to power their tractor, achieving near-zero CO2 emissions,” said Joe Boufford, Product Marketing Manager for Mid-Range Tractors at New Holland.
The tractor produces 98% less particulate matter compared to emission limits allowed under European Stage V emissions regulations and can provide up to a 30% reduction in running costs compared to its diesel counterpart. A tractor fueled by CNG reduces CO2 emissions by 10-15%, overall emissions by 80%, with near-zero emissions achieved when fueled by RNG.
SoCalGas is proud to have exhibited at every World Ag Expo since its inception in 1968. Its booths are located at H30 at the corner of H & Median Street. Click to learn more about SoCalGas, Hyundai Motor Company, and New Holland’s sustainability efforts.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines will continue to play a key role in California's clean energy transition—providing electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy deployment.
SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America. In support of that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy infrastructure company based in San Diego.
For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.
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