Daimler Truck has secured €226 million in funding for the development and small-series production of 100 hydrogen fuel cell trucks. The funding, provided by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the German states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, aims to advance hydrogen-powered transportation in the trucking sector. The first trucks are expected to be deployed to customers by the end of 2026, with the initiative being part of the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Hydrogen program, which seeks to promote hydrogen technology across Europe.
The trucks will be produced across multiple German sites, with final assembly taking place at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth. Key components like the electric drive axle and fuel cell systems will be manufactured in Kassel, Mannheim, and Esslingen. The trucks will utilize liquid hydrogen, offering a range of over 1,000 kilometers per tank, thanks to its higher energy density compared to gaseous hydrogen. This was demonstrated in the #HydrogenRecordRun in September 2023, when the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck covered 1,047 kilometers on a single tank of liquid hydrogen.
Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck, emphasized the significance of this funding, stating, “The approval of funding for the development and small-series production of 100 fuel cell trucks is an important boost for the use of hydrogen in road freight transportation.” The trucks are also part of ongoing trials, with prototypes already being tested by five customers in Germany on long-haul routes. The deployment of the 100 trucks will follow these trials, marking a significant milestone in the decarbonization of heavy-duty transport.
Dr. Volker Wissing, Germany’s Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, noted, “Sustainable transportation with hydrogen-powered trucks is already possible today. Daimler Truck is the first European manufacturer to produce a series-production truck that uses liquid hydrogen—providing an important impulse for the commercial use of hydrogen technology in road freight transportation.” Daimler Truck is also pursuing a dual-track strategy for decarbonizing its fleet, focusing on both hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric trucks. However, for the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered trucks, an international refueling infrastructure and a stable supply of cost-competitive green hydrogen are essential. The company aims to offer only CO2-neutral vehicles in its global core markets by 2039, in line with the Paris Climate Protection Agreement.
