Hyundai fuel cell bus climbs 2,080m in NEOM hydrogen trial
Hyundai Motor Group has completed a high-altitude hydrogen vehicle trial in the Saudi megaproject NEOM, using its UNIVERSE fuel cell coach on mountainous routes in the Trojena region.
The test is claimed to be the first deployment of a hydrogen fuel cell electric bus (FCEV) in high-altitude terrain – running at elevations up to 2,080m and gradients of 24%.
The coach bus was operated on a simulated passenger route from NEOM’s planned central business hub to Trojena, a tourism zone under development in the Saudi mountains near the Red Sea.
The trial was conducted in partnership with Enowa, NEOM’s energy and water subsidiary, and followed the installation of the site’s first hydrogen refuelling station.
From MoU to mountain test
Hyundai Motor Group signed a memorandum of understanding with NEOM in September 2024 to explore hydrogen mobility solutions for the development, which is being promoted as a “living laboratory” for sustainable urban systems.
The UNIVERSE Fuel Cell bus was previously used for VIP transport in NEOM between October and December 2024.
Enowa’s refuelling infrastructure enabled the latest test, which focused on validating FCEV performance in steep, high-altitude conditions – likely to be essential if hydrogen vehicles are to serve NEOM’s dispersed and topographically varied zones.
Part of Saudi Vision 2030
The project feeds into Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s strategy to diversify its economy and build out future-facing industries.
Hyundai said the trial reinforced its leadership in hydrogen mobility and showed the potential of hydrogen fuel cells for zero-emission transport in demanding environments.
The Group’s hydrogen brand HTWO is aiming to create a broad collaborative platform for hydrogen technology, from production and storage to mobility and infrastructure partnerships.
Hyundai has a long track record in hydrogen development stretching back to the late 1990s. Its work in Saudi Arabia has become increasingly visible as the Kingdom promotes hydrogen as a central pillar of its clean energy and industrial growth strategy.
