Key points
- Toyota will supply fuel-cell systems for 40 Scania heavy-duty trucks.
- The vehicles will be tested through Scania’s Pilot Partner programme.
- Toyota’s third-generation system delivers 300 kW.
- The first hydrogen trucks are expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2027.
Announced on 8 September, the partnership is intended to produce operational data on hydrogen in demanding transport operations. The trial will go beyond controlled laboratory testing, with the trucks joining Scania’s Pilot Partner programme. The initiative gives selected customers the opportunity to assess new technologies in day-to-day operating conditions.
The partners will assess technical performance, operating efficiency and total cost of ownership. The aim is to establish where hydrogen fuel-cell electric trucks can provide a viable alternative to conventional powertrains and other zero-emission technologies.
Toyota’s third-generation 300 kW fuel-cell system
The Scania trucks taking part in the trial will use Toyota’s third-generation fuel-cell system. It produces 300 kW and has a compact design, making it suitable for heavy vehicles and other energy-intensive applications.
Toyota says freight transport is one of the sectors where hydrogen could have the greatest potential, particularly on long-distance routes and in operations where minimising vehicle downtime is essential.
We believe heavy-duty transport will be essential to building demand for hydrogen and expanding the necessary infrastructure. We also see hydrogen as the right solution for heavy transport, where long range and operational efficiency are critical, said Hiroki Nakajima, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Corporation.
Nakajima added that bringing the third-generation system into the logistics operations of Scania’s customers would be ‘an important step towards hydrogen-powered mobility playing an even greater role in Europe’s heavy transport industry’.
Scania seeks answers from real-world trials
For Scania, the project forms part of a broader testing strategy. The manufacturer is comparing several technology options before determining whether they are ready for wider deployment.
We are pleased to work with Toyota to assess how fuel-cell technology performs in the demanding conditions of real-world transport, said Sara Forsberg, chief technology officer at Scania.
Through the Pilot Partner programme, she added, Scania works with selected customers ‘to test new technologies in real use cases, learn from their experience and further develop our solutions’.
The trial is expected to assess not only the technology’s benefits but also the challenges hydrogen faces in heavy transport, including energy efficiency, operating costs and the availability of refuelling infrastructure.
First trucks expected on the road in 2027
Operational testing is due to begin in early 2027, with the first hydrogen fuel-cell electric Scania trucks expected to enter service in the first quarter.
Data from the 40 vehicles will help identify the transport missions where the technology delivers the greatest benefits, as well as the barriers that must be addressed before fuel-cell trucks can be adopted commercially on a larger scale.
Toyota also said it would share further details of its strategy at a press conference scheduled for 14 September during IAA Transportation.
The Scania partnership comes as commercial vehicle manufacturers explore several routes to decarbonise long-haul transport. Battery-electric and hydrogen drivetrains have different operating profiles, and real-world fleet trials will be important in determining where fuel-cell trucks can compete.
