Volvo Trucks has made a significant step towards commercializing its long-haul transport solution with zero exhaust emissions by testing its new hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks on public roads.
This move follows the company’s announcement last year to expand its product portfolio by including fuel cell electric trucks, in addition to its current lineup of CO2-neutral vehicles such as battery electric trucks and trucks that run on renewable fuels. Fuel cell trucks have the ability to produce their own electricity using hydrogen, which makes them particularly suitable for long-haul applications in rural settings where battery charging infrastructure may be limited.
Volvo plans to make these trucks available in the second half of this decade, with tests with hauliers starting a few years prior to commercial launch. To accelerate development, Volvo has partnered with Daimler on the development of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and launched a joint venture called “Cellcentric” in 2021. The test was conducted in Northern Sweden above the Arctic Circle.
“We need to act now in order to stop global warming. Regardless of the transport assignments or where in the world our customers are operating, waiting is not an option. In a few years, our customers will be able to completely eliminate CO2 exhaust emissions from their trucks,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.