New hydrogen-powered trucks to appear in Germany
Transport remains one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions, transforming an essential element of global climate strategies. One promising solution is the environmentally friendly hydrogen-powered truck. Germany is actively testing this technology to reduce its carbon footprint.
The Federal Ministry of Transport and the authorities of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate have allocated €226 million to transform the transport sector. These funds will go towards several key tasks, including:
- developing hydrogen cell trucks;
- starting production;
- commissioning of one hundred units of such vehicles.
The project aims to increase the use of environmentally friendly means of transport in freight transport, which is an important step towards reducing the industry’s carbon emissions. Daimler Truck manufactures the new vehicles.
The plan is to have hydrogen-powered trucks in operation by the end of 2026. These vehicles will run on liquid hydrogen, which will allow them to travel more than a thousand kilometres. Due to its high energy density, this fuel is much more efficient than hydrogen gas, making it a cheaper alternative to conventional diesel engines.
Programme features
The project is part of the EU’s programme to expand the use of hydrogen. It aims to increase the popularity of green fuel for logistics and production tasks. The programme involves investments, of which Daimler Trucks will receive 75%. The rest of the funds will go to partners involved in the hydrogen value chain.
The truck components will be manufactured at several German plants, and the final assembly will take place at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Werth.
It is worth noting that the designated project contributes to the development of the German Länder. Production investments in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg will enhance the region’s status as innovative industrial centres.
The project authors hope that the new hydrogen-powered trucks will be the first step in the renewal of the transport sector. Once the team tests the first 100 vehicles, they can begin the expansion. At the same time, the EU and German authorities aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Hydrogen technology could be an effective solution to this problem.
Achieving carbon neutrality is a priority for the EU, but road transport can be a limiting factor. European countries are testing different mechanisms to address the situation in this sector. Some are subsidising transport renewal. Others are tightening emission standards. However, the consensus is that a significant reduction in CO2 emissions is only possible with substantial investment. And most of this will fall on the shoulders of operators who are not prepared to bear such costs.
