Daimler Truck is taking significant steps towards reducing carbon emissions in transportation by advancing the development of its fuel cell trucks. The Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks have completed rigorous testing on test tracks and public roads and are now entering a new phase with customer trials.
At the Daimler Truck Test and Development Center in Woerth am Rhein, Martin Daum, the Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck, marked the beginning of customer trials with five Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck fuel cell prototype trucks. The trials involve prominent companies such as Air Products, Amazon, Holcim, INEOS, and Wiedmann & Winz.
These customers will have the opportunity to experience long-distance transport with fuel cell trucks firsthand during the year-long trial period. This initiative allows the Daimler Truck development team to gather valuable insights into the practical operation of trucks powered by liquid hydrogen, understand specific customer needs, and incorporate them into future series development.
The five GenH2 Trucks will be deployed in various long-haul applications in Germany, including transporting building materials, sea containers, and cylinder gases. These trucks will be refueled at designated liquid hydrogen filling stations in Woerth am Rhein and eventually also in the Duisburg area.
Different companies will utilize these trucks for various logistics operations during the trial period. Amazon will integrate the GenH2 Truck into its logistics operations in Germany, while Air Products will use it for cylinder gas transport. Wiedmann & Winz will employ the truck for sea container transport, Holcim for building materials logistics, and VERVAEKE (INEOS logistics company) for PVC and vinyl transportation.
The Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck is designed based on the characteristics of the conventional Mercedes-Benz Actros long-haul truck, offering a payload of around 25 tons at a gross combination weight of 40 tons. The truck features two special liquid hydrogen tanks and a robust fuel-cell system developed by cellcentric, a Joint Venture of Daimler Truck and Volvo Group.
The fuel-cell system delivers 300 kilowatts, supported by an additional 400 kW from the battery when needed. The battery, with a storage capacity of 70 kWh, provides power support for the fuel cell during peak loads or uphill drives. The truck also includes a sophisticated cooling and heating system to maintain optimal operating temperatures for maximum durability.
Daimler Truck’s preference for liquid hydrogen in hydrogen-based drives is due to its higher energy density, enabling increased range and performance comparable to conventional diesel trucks. The use of liquid hydrogen also allows for a higher payload capacity, making the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck a viable option for demanding long-haul transportation needs.
In a notable achievement in September 2023, a prototype of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck set a #HydrogenRecordRun by covering 1,047 km on a single tank of liquid hydrogen. This milestone underscores the potential and efficiency of hydrogen-based transportation in the future of sustainable mobility.