Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled an autonomous hydrogen refuelling robot, presented for the first time at the World Hydrogen Expo 2025 in Korea. The system, displayed under the Group’s hydrogen brand HTWO, is designed to automate the complete refuelling sequence for fuel-cell vehicles, offering a potential new standard for hydrogen-station operations.
The robot, demonstrated with Hyundai’s NEXO fuel-cell SUV, identifies the vehicle, opens the refuelling port, connects the high-pressure dispenser and oversees the full refuelling cycle without human involvement. According to Hyundai, the system is capable of 24-hour unmanned operation and is integrated with a high-capacity dispenser capable of delivering hydrogen at up to 60 grams per second. During the expo demonstration, Hyundai simulated a refuelling process that would provide the NEXO with a driving range of approximately 720 kilometres in about five minutes.
The introduction of the robot is part of Hyundai’s broader hydrogen infrastructure strategy. Alongside the autonomous system, the company presented a set of newly developed technologies, including a next-generation mobile hydrogen refuelling station and a modular “packaged” refuelling system intended for rapid deployment. Together, these tools reflect the Group’s efforts to streamline hydrogen handling and expand refuelling capacity as it continues to promote fuel-cell mobility in both passenger and commercial sectors.
Hyundai stated that the automated refuelling robot is designed to improve safety and operational efficiency by standardising fuelling procedures and reducing the need for manual interaction with high-pressure hydrogen equipment. The system relies on computer vision and robotic control to manage positioning, coupling and monitoring, tasks normally carried out by trained operators.
The company has not yet announced a commercial rollout timeline. The system remains in the demonstration phase, and Hyundai has provided no details on certification, regulatory approval or expected deployment in public stations. With global hydrogen vehicle sales under pressure and infrastructure expansion progressing at different speeds across regions, adoption will depend on market development as well as safety validation.
Still, the autonomous refuelling concept illustrates Hyundai’s continued investment in the hydrogen value chain, from production and storage to distribution and mobility. The Group emphasised at the Expo that automated refuelling could support round-the-clock station availability and reduce operational bottlenecks, particularly in high-throughput commercial environments.
