The trucks are equipped with fuel cells supplied by Cellcentric, a joint venture between Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group. These trials mark a key step in Daimler’s roadmap for hydrogen-powered road freight.
The company also confirmed plans to scale up fuel cell production through Cellcentric, which intends to build one of Europe’s largest fuel cell manufacturing facilities in Weilheim an der Teck, South Germany.
Hydrogen is viewed by Daimler as a necessary complement to battery-electric vehicles in reducing emissions from heavy-duty transport.
“Those who want to lead the transport of the future do not rely on either-or, but on batteries AND hydrogen,” said Dr Andreas Gorbach, Head of Truck Technology at Daimler Truck, in an opinion piece published during Germany’s Hydrogen Week.
Daimler currently offers 11 battery-electric models in series production and is pursuing a dual strategy of expanding both electric charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. The GenH2 Truck prototypes represent the company’s first on-road hydrogen tests with customers.
The development of hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure remains contingent on broader policy support. Daimler has called on European governments to accelerate deployment in order to maintain the region’s competitiveness in zero-emission transport technologies.
