KEY POINTS
• Daimler Truck plans to invest several hundred million euros in hydrogen powered trucks by 2030.
• The company will pursue hydrogen and battery electric technology as parallel options for cutting emissions.
• It plans to put an initial 100 hydrogen powered trucks into customer use from the end of 2026.
MAIN STORY
Daimler Truck plans to invest several hundred million euros in hydrogen powered trucks by the end of the decade as it expands its strategy for reducing emissions from road transport.
Chief Executive Karin Rådström told dpa that the German truckmaker would increase its investment in hydrogen technology while continuing to develop battery electric vehicles.
The company considers hydrogen particularly suitable for transport operations where customers require greater payload capacity and longer driving ranges.
Hydrogen trucks can also be refuelled considerably faster than battery electric vehicles can be charged. Rådström said limitations in expanding electricity infrastructure could further support the case for hydrogen in some applications.
However, she said hydrogen would not be appropriate for every customer. The company expects the choice between hydrogen and battery electric trucks to depend on factors such as energy prices in individual countries and the availability of the required infrastructure.
Daimler Truck has already offered battery electric trucks for several years, although they still represent a small proportion of its overall sales.
Following prototype testing, the company plans to place a small series of 100 hydrogen powered trucks with customers from the end of this year.
The truckmaker is also working with companies across the transport, energy and industrial sectors to develop a hydrogen ecosystem. It is expected to provide further details at a trade fair in Hanover next week.
THE ISSUES
Daimler Truck’s approach reflects the different requirements of commercial road transport. While battery electric vehicles can meet many operating needs, longer range, payload requirements and faster refuelling could make hydrogen more suitable for some applications.
The availability and cost of energy and supporting infrastructure will also influence which technology customers adopt in different markets.
WHAT’S BEING SAID
“We have invested a lot in battery electric vehicles, but now we are taking the next step and putting a lot of money into making hydrogen a success.” – Karin Rådström
“There are clear use cases where our customers really need the payload and the range.” – Karin Rådström
“We do not want to make the same mistake that was made in electric mobility.” – Karin Rådström
WHAT’S NEXT
Daimler Truck plans to begin customer use of its initial 100 hydrogen powered trucks from the end of this year.
The company will also outline its plans for developing a wider hydrogen ecosystem with transport, energy and industrial partners at a trade fair in Hanover next week.
BOTTOM LINE
Daimler Truck is committing several hundred million euros to hydrogen powered trucks while retaining battery electric vehicles as another route to lower emissions. The company expects the two technologies to serve different customer needs depending on range, payload, energy costs and infrastructure.
