Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate approved funding totaling €226 million for the development, small-series production and customer deployment (operation and maintenance) of 100 fuel cell trucks.

The application had been subject to extensive review, also by the European Commission.

On the path to decarbonize transportation with hydrogen-powered trucks, Daimler Truck had filed an application for funding in 2021 for the development of fuel cell trucks and small series customer deployment in long-distance transportation. Daimler Truck will now receive around two thirds of the total eligible amount put forward in the IPCEI-funding application. Daimler Truck will continue to carry a significant part of the total investment in the development of fuel cell trucks on its own.

The funding project, created within the framework of the European Union’s IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) Hydrogen program, covers both vehicle and production-related activities. In addition to the development and build-up of the vehicles, the funding will also be used for feasibility studies with regard to the hydrogen value chain as well as investments in required production facilities and processes in preparation for planned series production.

Key components are set to be assembled at various German production sites and made available for final assembly. Kassel (electric drive axle) and Mannheim (Tech Tower) are two of the involved plants, while the fuel cells are planned to come from cellcentric’s pilot production in Esslingen and are set to be assembled into a twin-system at the Gaggenau plant. Final assembly of the next generation fuel cell trucks is set to take place at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth and the trucks are expected to go into operation at various customers from the end of 2026 onwards.

In their funding assessment, the European Commission identified at an early stage that there was no comparable venture to this project’s deployment of liquid hydrogen, which was positively highlighted within the scope of the IPCEI criteria. In its liquid aggregate state, the energy carrier has a significantly higher energy density in comparison to gaseous hydrogen. This means that more hydrogen can be transported, significantly increasing the range and ultimately enabling comparable performance to a conventional diesel truck.

In addition, transportation efforts can be significantly reduced with liquid hydrogen. Moreover, liquid hydrogen tanks offer cost and weight advantages compared to compressed gaseous hydrogen. Thus, the use of liquid hydrogen enables a higher payload, among other benefits. This makes the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck just as suitable for flexible and demanding long-haul road transportation as conventional diesel trucks.

In September 2023, Daimler Truck successfully demonstrated this, when a public road approved prototype of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck completed the #HydrogenRecordRun, covering 1,047 km with one tank filling of liquid hydrogen on board. The fuel cell trucks funded under the IPCEI are set to enter customer operations with this tried-and-tested liquid hydrogen technology.

Small series is part of extensive trials of fuel-cell trucks. A non-binding prospect of funding issued in 2022 enabled Daimler Truck to start measures early. Since then, first prototypes of our fuel cell truck were built and five customers are currently already deploying these trucks in initial customer trials, gaining experience with fuel cell vehicles.

The five semi-trailer tractors are deployed in different long-haul applications on specific routes in Germany and are refueled at two liquid hydrogen filling stations (sLH2 in Wörth am Rhein and one in the Duisburg area). Daimler Truck and its partner companies are thus creating a lighthouse project, demonstrating that decarbonized transportation with hydrogen-fueled trucks is already possible today.

It is anticipated that the 100 IPCEI-funded fuel cell trucks will be delivered from the end of 2026 onwards. However, for the transformation towards sustainable transportation to succeed, it will be necessary in the coming years to ensure the build-up of an international refueling infrastructure and a sufficient supply of cost-competitive green liquid hydrogen.