Global truck manufacturer Daimler Truck has launched initial customer trials of its hydrogen fuel cell-powered Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks. The trials involve five customers: Air Products, Amazon, Holcim, INEOS, and Wiedmann & Winz.
This initiative aligns with Daimler Truck’s 2020 commitment to significantly invest in hydrogen technology as part of its goal to offer only CO2-neutral vehicles in its core markets by 2039. While battery electric vehicles are suitable for short-range routes and areas with charging infrastructure, fuel cell trucks are particularly advantageous for long-haul applications in areas with limited charging options, such as rural settings. The fuel cell trucks can produce their own electricity using hydrogen, making them ideal for these conditions.
In 2021, Daimler and Volvo established “Cellcentric,” a joint venture to create one of Europe’s largest planned series production of fuel-cell systems, which power the GenH2 trucks. These trucks use liquid hydrogen, offering a significantly higher energy density, allowing for more hydrogen storage, extended range, and performance comparable to conventional diesel trucks.
Daimler introduced its first GenH2 prototype in 2021 and recently demonstrated the truck over a distance of 1,047 km. The company aims to release the series version of the truck in the latter half of the decade.
The one-year trials will test the trucks in various long-haul applications: Amazon will use them for logistics in Germany, Air Products for transporting cylinder gases, Wiedmann & Winz for sea container transport, Holcim for building materials logistics, and INEOS’s VERVAEKE for PVC and vinyl transportation. Daimler Truck believes the trials will provide valuable insights into the real-world operation of liquid hydrogen-powered trucks and specific customer needs, aiding future series development.