MAN, Europe’s second-largest commercial truck manufacturer, has announced plans to produce 200 hydrogen-powered semi trucks, signaling a significant step towards alternative fuel technologies. This move comes even as the company’s leadership remains skeptical about hydrogen’s long-term viability.
MAN’s CEO, Alexander Vlaskamp, has previously expressed doubts, stating that “it is impossible for hydrogen to effectively compete with battery electric trucks.” He highlighted the current high cost of hydrogen, stating that “Today you cannot buy hydrogen for less than 13 or 14 euros … and it is not green.”
Despite these reservations, MAN is proceeding with the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles as part of its strategy to explore diverse fuel options. Vlaskamp clarified that this investment is primarily to test their hypothesis, stating, “Only to test our hypothesis. We may use hydrogen for transportation in 2035, but only if there is enough green hydrogen at the right price and the necessary infrastructure is in place.”
Frederik Zohm, MAN’s board member for research and development, affirmed the company’s commitment to hydrogen research, noting that MAN continues to explore fuel cell technology based on battery electrics. He added that MAN expects battery-electric trucks to be the optimal choice for the majority of their customers’ transport needs in the future.
The hydrogen trucks, dubbed the MAN gTGX, are equipped with a 56 kg tank capable of being filled with hydrogen compressed at 700 bar in just 15 minutes. These vehicles are expected to emit less than 1 kg of CO2 per km, meeting the criteria for “zero-emissions vehicles” under EU regulations. The H2 combustion engine in the trucks is projected to deliver over 1800 lb-ft. of torque, enabling them to haul more than 220,000 lbs. of payload.
