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Daimler Truck has received funding approval for the development and production of 100 fuel cell trucks. The funding, totaling €226 million, is provided by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) alongside the German states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. This initiative aims to foster hydrogen-powered trucking, with the first trucks expected to be deployed to customers by the end of 2026. The funding falls under the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Hydrogen program, aimed at advancing hydrogen technology across the European Union.
Key Highlights:
- Total funding of €226 million approved by the BMDV and German states for Daimler Truck’s hydrogen project.
- Development and small-series production of 100 fuel cell trucks to start, with deployment expected from the end of 2026.
- Funding forms part of the IPCEI Hydrogen program, supporting hydrogen technology across Europe.
- Production and assembly at multiple German sites, with final assembly at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth.
- Utilization of liquid hydrogen, providing an extended range of over 1,000 kilometers.
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), in collaboration with the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, has approved funding worth €226 million to support the development, small-series production, and customer deployment of 100 hydrogen fuel cell trucks. The project has undergone extensive review, including approval by the European Commission under the IPCEI Hydrogen program. This funding represents a significant milestone in developing hydrogen-based solutions for the commercial vehicle industry.
Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck, emphasized the importance of the funding as a strong signal for the use of hydrogen in road freight transportation, 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 will be manufactured at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth, with components like the electric drive axle and fuel cell systems assembled at various locations, including Kassel, Mannheim, and Esslingen. The trucks are expected to go into operation at multiple customer sites starting at the end of 2026. The IPCEI-funded project also includes feasibility studies and investments in production facilities to prepare for potential future large-scale production.
Dr. Volker Wissing, Germany’s Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, stated, “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.”
The Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck is expected to use liquid hydrogen, which offers significant advantages over gaseous hydrogen, including a higher energy density, allowing more hydrogen to be stored and transported, thereby significantly extending the truck’s operational range. The GenH2 Truck successfully demonstrated these capabilities during the #HydrogenRecordRun in September 2023, covering 1,047 km with a single tank of liquid hydrogen.
The project is also part of extensive trials, with early prototypes already being tested by five customers in Germany on specific long-haul routes. The deployment of 100 IPCEI-funded trucks will follow these trials, marking an important step toward the decarbonization of heavy-duty transportation. However, for the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered trucks, an international refueling infrastructure and a stable supply of cost-competitive green liquid hydrogen are essential.
Daimler Truck continues to pursue a dual-track strategy for the decarbonization of its fleet, focusing on both hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric trucks. The company aims to offer only CO2-neutral vehicles in its global core markets by 2039, aligning with the Paris Climate Protection Agreement. Daimler sees hydrogen as a particularly viable option for heavy-duty long-distance haulage, while battery-electric trucks are suited for distribution and other specific applications.
The success of the hydrogen truck initiative will hinge not only on technology development but also on the availability of green hydrogen and necessary infrastructure to support widespread deployment.
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