Daimler Truck, one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, is advancing sustainable transportation. The company aims to offer CO2-neutral vehicles across its global markets (EU30, USA, Japan) by 2039. Hydrogen-based technologies are ideal for heavy-duty and long-distance haulage.
In its next development phase, Daimler Truck is moving forward with its fuel cell trucks. After extensive testing, the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks are ready for initial customer trials.
At the Daimler Truck Test and Development Center in Woerth am Rhein, Martin Daum, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck, launched the trials of five GenH2 Truck prototypes. This event, attended by Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), included customers like Air Products, Amazon, Holcim, INEOS, and Wiedmann & Winz. Over the next year, these customers will use the trucks in long-distance transport, providing valuable real-life data and insights for Daimler Truck.
The GenH2 Trucks will operate on specific routes in Germany, transporting building materials, sea containers, and cylinder gases. During the trials, the vehicles will remain under Daimler Truck’s supervision and refuel at designated liquid hydrogen stations in Woerth am Rhein and Duisburg.
Martin Daum emphasized the need for both battery-electric and hydrogen-based drives to decarbonize transport. He highlighted the importance of green energy availability, charging, and refueling infrastructure, and achieving cost parity with conventional vehicles. Hildegard Müller added that all available technologies should be exploited for climate-neutral mobility, especially hydrogen fuel cells for heavy-duty vehicles.
The GenH2 Trucks will be used by Amazon for logistics in Germany, Air Products for transporting cylinder gases, Wiedmann & Winz for sea containers, Holcim for building materials, and INEOS/VERVAEKE for PVC and vinyl transportation.
The GenH2 Trucks are based on the conventional Mercedes-Benz Actros, offering similar payload, range, and performance. They have a payload of about 25 tons with a gross combination weight of 40 tons. Equipped with two liquid hydrogen tanks and a powerful fuel-cell system by cellcentric (a Daimler Truck and Volvo Group joint venture), the trucks deliver high performance and long range. The fuel-cell system provides 300 kilowatts, and the battery offers an additional 400 kW temporarily. The battery, primarily for peak loads, is recharged with braking energy and excess fuel-cell energy.
Daimler Truck prefers liquid hydrogen for its higher energy density, which increases range and payload capacity. In September 2023, the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck successfully completed a 1,047 km run with one tank of liquid hydrogen.
Key customer quotes:
- Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products: “Logistics is integral to our business. Trialing the GenH2 Truck is crucial for converting our fleet to hydrogen. We’re proud to provide refueling infrastructure and liquid hydrogen for this project.”
- Andreas Marschner, Amazon: “Decarbonizing our transport network is vital for our Climate Pledge. We look forward to supporting Daimler Truck in this project.”
- John H. Landwehr, Holcim Group: “In bulk logistics, payload impacts CO2 footprint and efficiency. After battery-electric tests, we’re excited to trial a hydrogen-powered truck for sustainable transportation.”
- Wouter Bleukx, INEOS: “Hydrogen will transform truck transportation. As Europe’s largest electrolysis operator, we’re excited to support Daimler Truck in this trial.”
- Frédéric Derumeaux, VERVAEKE: “Propelling heavy trucks with liquid hydrogen is revolutionary. This collaboration with INEOS and Daimler Truck will help us achieve emission-free logistics.”
- Dr. Micha Lege, Wiedmann & Winz: “We’re excited to test the GenH2 Truck, continuing our tradition of embracing innovations in transportation.”
