The GenH2 prototype received road approval in October last year and has since been reeling off its kilometres not only on the company’s internal test tracks, but also on country roads and motorways. The development goal of the hydrogen-powered truck is a range of up to 1000 kilometres without a stop for refuelling or charging. The start of series production is planned for 2027.

With this range, the Gen2H will complete Daimler Truck’s range of CO2-neutral trucks. In addition to the Gen2H, this range currently includes the battery-powered eActros trucks for heavy distribution transport (in series production since October 2021) and the eActros LongHaul, which is scheduled to roll off the production line from 2024. In addition, there is the eConic, which will be designed for municipal operations and is scheduled to hit the road in 2H22. The different models are intended to complement each other depending on customer requirements in the market: The heavier the load and the longer the distance, the more likely the fuel cell will be the vehicle of choice, the manufacturer says.

• Daimler Truck launches intensive tests of fuel cell truck

The development of hydrogen-based truck drives is a high priority at Daimler Truck. To advance the development of this technology, Daimler Truck founded the fuel cell joint venture cellcentric together with the Volvo Group in March 2021. cellcentric’s ambition is to become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fuel cell systems. To this end, the company plans to build one of the largest series productions of fuel cell systems in Europe. The start of production is planned for 2025. In addition, the German truck manufacturer is cooperating with Shell New Energies, a subsidiary of the oil company Shell. The two partners plan to build a hydrogen tank infrastructure and introduce fuel cell trucks in Europe.

• Daimler Truck, Volvo join forces for fuel cell series production
• Daimler Truck and ZF advance fuel cell technology

Because the tank infrastructure is currently still the Achilles’ heel of hydrogen propulsion. In order for the CO2-neutral transport of the future with hydrogen-powered trucks to get on the road soon, experts consider the rapid development of a nationwide refuelling infrastructure in Europe to be imperative. Both private-sector initiatives such as H2 MOBILITY and the corresponding framework conditions on the part of politicians through appropriate legislation are essential, Daimler Truck said.

https://www.daimlertruck.com/en/

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