Hyundai Motor Group to Take Part in World Hydrogen Expo 2026, Unveil Commercial Hydrogen Fuel Cell System for the First Time

[Financial News] Hyundai Motor Group said on the 28th that it will take part in World Hydrogen Expo 2026 (WHE 2026), which opens on the 4th of next month, and showcase its hydrogen-powered commercial mobility technologies. The group will unveil for the first time a fuel cell system with improved durability to meet the demands of commercial vehicles, which run longer, farther and under heavier loads than passenger cars, and will also present technologies for refueling and vehicle management.
Now in its seventh edition, WHE is an expo combining a hydrogen industry exhibition with an international conference. It will be held from Nov. 4 to 6 at Exhibition Hall 2 of KINTEX in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province. The event will comprise an exhibition, a global conference and a business partnership fair, and around 190 companies and institutions from 11 countries are expected to take part.
Hyundai Motor Group will exhibit for the first time a commercial hydrogen fuel cell system with enhanced durability, designed with the frequent long-duration, long-distance and heavy-load operation of commercial vehicles in mind.
The group will also demonstrate for the first time the process of refueling a sanitation truck with hydrogen using a hydrogen-powered vehicle automatic-charging robot. The robot is expected to enable unmanned refueling around the clock, improving driver convenience and the operating efficiency of refueling stations.
The group will also introduce Bluelink Uptime Care, a fleet-monitoring solution that helps manage vehicles by tracking hydrogen commercial vehicles’ operating status, the condition of key components and any abnormalities in real time.
Hyundai Motor Group will also exhibit an Elec City hydrogen-powered low-floor metropolitan bus, which is under development to improve convenience for people with limited mobility. Designed with wheelchair users and others in mind, the vehicle is set for mandatory introduction in 2027 under the Act on the Promotion of the Transportation Convenience of Mobility Disadvantaged Persons. Visitors will be able to board the bus and experience its interior, including its low-floor design.
Test-drive programs will also be offered for an upgraded version of the Universe hydrogen-powered bus, used for express coach services and other purposes, and the New Xcient hydrogen-powered truck. The programs will let participants experience firsthand the quiet ride of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles.
A Hyundai Motor Group representative said, “We plan to enhance customer convenience throughout the entire process—from vehicle operation and maintenance to refueling—through a commercial hydrogen fuel cell system with improved durability, data-driven vehicle management and automated hydrogen refueling technology,” adding, “We will work to establish hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles as a trusted option in real-world transportation operations.”
Meanwhile, the global conference ‘Leadership Insight’ will be held on the 4th, the expo’s opening day, with senior figures from government, business and finance in attendance. Ivana Jemelkova, CEO of the Hydrogen Council, will present an update on global hydrogen projects and the investment outlook. In a panel discussion that follows, leading Korean hydrogen companies, including Hyundai Motor Group, will discuss ways to boost investment in projects and promote international cooperation.
[email protected] Kim Dong-chan Reporter