Daimler Truck begins customer trials with GenH2 Trucks

GenH2 Trucks were trailed by Amazon, Air Products, Holcim, VERVAEKE, and Wiedmann & Winz

Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany – Daimler Truck AG., a commercial vehicle manufacture, is deploying its Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks in customer fleets for the first time. Five GenH2 fuel cell trucks will be used for long-haul applications on specific routes in Germany, transporting building materials, sea containers, and cylinder gases. During these initial customer trials, the vehicles will remain under the manufacturer's supervision. They will be refueled at designated liquid hydrogen filling stations in Woerth am Rhein and, in the future, in the Duisburg area.

Mr. Martin Daum, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck, said, “When it comes to decarbonizing transport, we are focusing on battery-electric and hydrogen-based drives. The transformation can only succeed if green energy is sufficiently and comprehensively available – and for this we need both technologies. With regard to hydrogen drives, we are now taking another important step towards series readiness: we are starting the trials of our Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks in real-life daily transport operations with our customers. However, it is important to note that high-performance CO2-neutral vehicles alone will not be enough to make sustainable transportation successful. This also requires a corresponding charging and refueling infrastructure, as well as cost parity with conventional vehicles. Although policymakers and energy companies are already active here, we urgently need even more momentum, across entire Europe!” 

Mr. Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), said, “On the path towards the climate-neutral mobility of the future, the potential of all available technologies should be exploited. Particularly when it comes to heavy-duty commercial vehicles, e-mobility cannot be equated exclusively with battery-electric drive. Rather, the fuel cell drive powered by hydrogen must also be considered as part of the diversity of available technologies. Manufacturers have the corresponding models in development and production, and now the political framework conditions must finally be created: a needs-based network of hydrogen filling stations and the associated infrastructure must be built up urgently. There is an urgent need for action for politicians, the German Federal Network Agency and the energy industry.”

The five semi-trailer tractors will be used by customers in various long-haul applications throughout the trial period. Amazon will use the GenH2 Truck in its logistics operations in Germany, Air Products for the transport of cylinder gases, Wiedmann & Winz for sea containers, Holcim for building materials logistics, and VERVAEKE – the logistics company of INEOS – for PVC and vinyl transportation.

The GenH2 Truck's performance is comparable to conventional long-haul trucks. Daimler Truck engineers based the GenH2 Truck on the Mercedes-Benz Actros, offering a payload of about 25 tons and a GCW of 40 tons. It features two liquid hydrogen tanks and a powerful fuel-cell system by cellcentric, a Daimler Truck and Volvo Group joint venture. The fuel-cell system delivers 300 kW, with the battery providing an additional 400 kW when needed. The battery, with a 70 kWh capacity, supports the fuel cell during peak loads and is recharged through braking and excess fuel-cell energy.

The GenH2 Truck has two stainless-steel liquid hydrogen tanks, each holding 44 kg, providing a range of over 1,000 km. Daimler Truck prefers liquid hydrogen due to its higher energy density, which enhances range and performance, making the GenH2 Truck suitable for long-haul transportation. In September 2023, a prototype completed the #HydrogenRecordRun, covering 1,047 km with one tank of liquid hydrogen.

Mr. Seifi Ghasemi, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Products, said, “With thousands of trucks delivering industrial gases to our customers every day, logistics is an integral part of our business. Trialing a Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck under real conditions is a critical step in our work to convert our distribution fleet to hydrogen powered vehicles. On the pathway to sustainable transportation, safe and reliable production, transportation, and distribution of renewable hydrogen across the entire value chain is also essential. This is Air Products’ proven area of expertise, and we’re proud to be providing critical refueling infrastructure and liquid hydrogen as part of this project.”

Mr. Andreas Marschner, Vice President, Amazon Transportation Services, said, “We remain steadfast in our Climate Pledge commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions across our operations by 2040. The decarbonization of our transport network plays a crucial role in achieving this milestone, and we continue to invest, experiment and innovate. We look forward to supporting the Daimler Truck development team in the next phase of this project.”

Mr. John H. Landwehr, Gerdes + Landwehr, Partner to the Holcim Group, said, “In our bulk logistics, payload has always played a significant role in terms of CO2 footprint and efficiency. After extensive tests with battery-electric trucks, we are incredibly excited to continue testing the path to sustainable transportation of the future with a hydrogen-powered truck. Only with our own intensive experience can we make the right decisions for the change in our group starting in 2025.

Mr. Wouter Bleukx, Business Director Hydrogen at INEOS Inovyn, said, “We are delighted to be part of the customer fuel cell technology trial. Hydrogen is a game-changing energy solution that will transform truck transportation and help us achieve a zero-emission future. As Europe’s largest operator of electrolysis, and a producer and consumer of low-carbon hydrogen, INEOS is in a unique position to drive this vital change. Together with our logistics partner VERVAEKE, we are excited to support Daimler Truck.”

Mr. Frédéric Derumeaux, CEO of VERVAEKE, said, “I am excited about this project, which fits perfectly with our strategy to drastically reduce CO2 emissions. Propelling heavy trucks with liquid hydrogen is a revolutionary and decisive step forward. As a leading transportation company, we play an important role, and this unique collaboration with INEOS and Daimler Truck will help us to test truly emission-free logistics.”

Dr. Micha Lege of Wiedmann & Winz from Geislingen, said “Our company has always been interested in innovations, as Wiedmann & Winz was one of the first enterprises to invest in telematics and digitalization in transportation with Fleetboard. We have also recently been using an eActros 300 as a semitrailer truck in everyday haulage operations. Now we are looking forward to taking the next step and also testing a long-haul truck with a hydrogen fuel cell drive, in the form of the GenH2 Truck.”