Hyundai Motor Group has successfully completed a hydrogen mobility test in Trojena, the mountainous zone of Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion NEOM megaproject. This marks the first time hydrogen-powered vehicles have been deployed in such high-altitude conditions.
The trial featured Hyundai’s UNIVERSE fuel cell electric coach bus, which was tested on challenging routes with gradients of up to 24% and elevations reaching 2,080 meters. The vehicle simulated transporting passengers between NEOM’s upcoming central business district and Trojena.
This initiative stems from a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2024 between Hyundai and NEOM’s Mobility division, aimed at developing next-generation zero-emission transportation solutions.
Supporting the trial was Enowa, NEOM’s energy and water subsidiary, which recently installed the region’s first hydrogen refuelling station. This infrastructure enabled the use of Hyundai’s UNIVERSE Fuel Cell bus for VIP transport within NEOM between October and December 2024.
Hyundai’s participation in Saudi Arabia’s hydrogen ambitions builds on decades of R&D, beginning in the late 1990s. The project also contributes to Saudi Vision 2030 and supports the country’s HTWO platform, which promotes the production, storage, and utilization of hydrogen energy.
