Hydrogen excavator digs in at the bauma exhibition
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 through 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. The HW155H is equipped with a single fuel cell, with a maximum output of 90kW. The machine uses the fuel cell to power an electric motor, that then drives the hydraulic system.
Hydrogen is an inherently 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. The hydrogen storage on-board has the capacity to allow a full 12 hours of operation.
This will make the use of hydrogen an acceptable solution for infrastructure, civil engineering and building projects across the world. Hyundai’s high-density, metal hydride storage system doubles the capacity of a conventional hydrogen tank, using a considerably lower filling pressure. The solid hydrogen storage system is installed within the excavator in place of the machine’s counterweight, optimising space within the upperstructure and improving 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 mobile hydrogen refuelling in action, that would make the use of hydrogen on European construction sites in the near future a real possibility. The mobile refuelling station can charge up to four machines simultaneously, enhancing the convenience of hydrogen.
Hyundai Construction Equipment’s HW155H will be a stand-out star of the show in April. The machine has been nominated in the top three for Bauma’s 2025’s Innovation Awards in the Climate Protection category.