The North American Commercial Vehicle Show usually
doesn’t get much attention, but that’s changing this year as Hyundai will use
the event to introduce the HDC-6 Neptune concept. Billed as the company’s vision
for a fuel cell semi, the HDC-6 Neptune is named after the Roman god of the
seas and will be unveiled on October 29th.
The company is staying tight-lipped on specifics,
but confirmed the concept will feature a bold design that draws inspiration
from “streamliner railway trainsets” from the 1930s. As a result, the semi has
an art deco design which manages to look both retro and futuristic. It also
gives us a GM Futurliner vibe, but the HDC-6 Neptune will be entirely
different.
The unique styling continues in the cabin as the
semi has a bespoke interior with a large front window that is surrounded by a
digital frame. Hyundai didn’t say anything about it, but the frame is divided
into four different sections. The lower section houses a digital instrument
cluster and infotainment system, while the upper display shows information
about the truck. The left and right sides of the frame have displays for
digital side mirrors.
We can also see a three-spoke steering, a head-up
display and a ‘floating’ shelf that apparently holds a briefcase. There’s also
a unique passenger seat which can apparently transform into a bed or sofa. The HDC-6 Neptune concept will be
joined by the HT Nitro ThermoTech concept from Hyundai Translead. The company
said it’s an “eco-friendly, high-performance refrigerated” trailer solution.
In a statement, Hyundai’s head of the commercial
vehicle business division, Edward Lee, said “With the introduction of HDC-6
Neptune, in addition to the road proven Xcient fuel cell truck, we expand our
technology leadership into the commercial vehicle sector by unveiling our
vision of how fuel cell electric trucks can resolve the environmental equations
of widely used commercial vehicles and our commitment to create a decarbonized
society.”
