Daimler reveals details of its Mercedes-Benz hydrogen fuel-cell truck

Will Shiers
September 16, 2020

Daimler Trucks has revealed the first details the Mercedes-Benz GenH2, a fuel-cell truck with a 1,000km range.

The 40-tonne concept truck uses liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen, which has a higher density, so gives the vehicle a range comparable to that of a diesel-powered truck. Customer trials will commence in 2023, with series production starting in the second half of this decade.

Earlier this year Daimler and Volvo Trucks announced details of a collaboration to produce and sell fuel-cell systems for heavy-duty trucks.

Daimler has also presented the Mercedes eActros LongHaul, a battery-powered truck with a 500km range, which will go into series production in 2024. Meanwhile its eActros rigid, which has been trialled with customers for the past two years, will be on sale next year.

Martin Daum, chairman of the board of management at Daimler Trucks, said: “This combination enables us to offer our customers the best vehicle options, depending on the application. Battery power will be rather used for lower cargo weights and for shorter distances. Fuel-cell power will tend to be the preferred option for heavier loads and longer distances.”

He also announced the company’s ambition to offer only new vehicles that are CO2-neutral in driving operation (from tank to wheel) in Europe, North America and Japan by 2039.

Full details and images of the zero-emission Mercedes trucks will be revealed in Commercial Motor over the coming weeks.

About the Author

Will Shiers

Will Shiers has held an HGV licence since the age of 21, and has been writing about commercial vehicles for the past 25 years. He started his career as technical editor on Motor Transport, before taking on the editorship of Truck & Driver. Since 2011 he has been the editor of industry leading weekly publication Commercial Motor. Will is the UK jury member of the International Truck of the Year.

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