Hyundai Construction Equipment will have its HW155H hydrogen fuel cell-powered wheeled excavator concept working on the demonstration area throughout this year’s Bauma exhibition in Munich.
The pre-production machine, which was first seen as a static exhibit at the last Bauma in 2022, will demonstrate to customers how hydrogen could contribute to future carbon-free operation on construction sites across Europe.
A hydrogen fuel cell uses a chemical reaction between hydrogen that is carried on board and oxygen in the atmosphere, to generate electricity, with the only emission being water vapour. The fuel cell delivers power on demand to drive the machine, either though electric motors, or via electrically-driven hydraulic pumps.
The project to develop a fuel cell for the HW155H has been a cooperation between Hyundai Construction Equipment and Hyundai Motor Company, which has a range of powertrain solutions available in the passenger car and utility vehicle markets. Two cells have been designed, creating 30kW and 50kW of power, with the HW155H using a combination of fuel cells to provide 70-100kW of power. These fuel cells would suit a range of machines, including the 15-tonne wheeled excavator, fork lift trucks and emergency generators.
The HW155H is a 15-tonne wheeled excavator that combines on and off-road capabilities, making it an ideal choice for hydrogen power. The machine uses the fuel cell to power an electric motor, that then drives the hydraulic system. The hydrogen storage on-board has the capacity to allow a full eight hours of operation, with refuelling taking between 10-20 minutes.
Hydrogen is a safe fuel, with an auto-ignition temperature that is higher than petrol of diesel. As it is 14 times lighter than air, it also disperses harmlessly into the atmosphere. Hyundai has developed a world-first, innovative low pressure hydrogen storage solution, that offers high density storage for extended operating autonomy.
This will make the use of hydrogen an acceptable solution for infrastructure, civil engineering and building projects across the world. Hyundai’s high-density, solid state storage system will double the capacity of a conventional hydrogen tank, using a considerably lower filling pressure. This will optimise space within the machine, reduce fill times and improve safety on site.
The HW155H will meet the needs of a wide range of construction customers, delivering an operating speed and power similar to that of a conventional diesel-powered excavator., with all-day useability.
The construction industry is facing growing pressure to reduce its environmental impact and Hyundai Construction Equipment will demonstrate the feasibility and viability of hydrogen use within its machinery, paving the way to a more sustainable future. This has to include infrastructure and the Bauma demonstration will show a mobile refuelling solution, that would make the use of hydrogen on European construction sites in the near future a real possibility.
Hyundai Construction Equipment’s HW155H is in the running for a place among the top three nominees for Bauma 2025’s Innovation Awards, in the Climate Protection category. The HW155H hydrogen-powered wheeled excavator concept will be a stand-out star of the show in April.
