Daimler Truck Announces First Customer-Trial Fleet of Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks, Employing Fuel Cell Technology
In a significant step towards sustainable transportation, Daimler Truck has announced the commencement of the first customer trials for its next-generation Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks. These trials, set to begin in mid-2024, will see five companies – Amazon, Air Products, Holcim, INEOS, and Wiedmann & Winz – participating in real-world deployment of hydrogen-powered trucks for CO2-free long-distance transport in Germany.
The GenH2 Trucks, with a payload capacity of approximately 25 tons and a gross combination weight of 40 tons, will be refueled at designated public liquid hydrogen filling stations in Wörth am Rhein and the Duisburg area. Each company will deploy the semi-trailer tractors in different long-haul applications on specific routes within Germany.
Amazon, Air Products, INEOS, and Holcim plan to use the GenH2 Trucks for various purposes, including transporting granulates and minerals for the building material industry, Dry Bulk PVC, and sea containers. Wiedmann & Winz, an international logistics service provider, sees a high potential for the GenH2 Truck in pan-European logistic routes.
Dr. Micha Lege, Managing Director of Wiedmann & Winz, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "The GenH2 Truck presents a promising solution for our long-haul operations, offering a significant step towards carbon-neutral logistics."
Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG, responsible for Truck Technology, believes that these trials will allow fuel-cell trucks to be tested in real customer operation. Gorbach stated, "This first customer fleet is a crucial step in validating the practicality and efficiency of fuel-cell trucks in real-world scenarios."
Daimler Truck aims to introduce the series version of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck in the second half of the decade. The fuel-cell system of the GenH2 Truck delivers 300 kilowatts (2 x 150 kW), with a battery providing an additional 400 kW temporarily. The customer trial fleet will use the sLH2 technology for refueling, a new refueling process for liquid hydrogen developed jointly with Linde.
Air Products, one of the participating companies, plans to convert its entire global fleet to hydrogen-powered vehicles and is involved in the lighthouse project with Daimler Truck. This project signifies a significant commitment to sustainable transportation solutions and sets an example for other companies to follow.
Daimler Truck's successful demonstration of hydrogen fuel-cell technology in September 2023, completing a 1,047 km distance with one fill of liquid hydrogen, further solidifies the potential of hydrogen-powered trucks in decarbonizing flexible and demanding long-haul road transportation.
[1] Daimler Truck press release, "First Customer Trials of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck Begin in Mid-2024", accessed on March 15, 2024. [2] Linde press release, "Daimler Truck and Linde Collaborate on Refueling Infrastructure for Hydrogen-Powered Trucks", accessed on March 15, 2024.
The GenH2 Trucks, innovative fuel-cell trucks developed by Daimler Truck, are set to be tested in real-world operations as five companies, including Wiedmann & Winz, partake in customer trials beginning in mid-2024. This technology, designated for carbon-neutral logistics, promises to revolutionize long-haul transportation.
