Transport: Daimler Truck gives an insight into hydrogen test vehicles

Daimler Truck is also using fuel cells for new drive systems for its trucks. Trucks with hydrogen tanks are to be presented on Monday (11.30 a.m.) in Wörth in the south of Palatinate. These are test vehicles that also drive on public roads.

CEO Martin Daum announced that the first test fleets should come onto the market in the middle of the decade. In the second half of the decade, the fuel cell truck will then go into series production. He should have two hydrogen tanks and a range of about 1000 kilometers.

The truck industry is under pressure from the EU to comply with binding climate protection targets. New models should emit an average of 15 percent less carbon dioxide by 2025 and at least 30 percent by 2030. The reference period for this is 2019/20. If the requirements are not met, there are high penalties.

Joint factory planned

In order to secure production, Daimler Truck wants to build a fuel cell factory with Volvo in Weilheim an der Teck, Swabia. 800 people are said to work there. The Cellcentric joint venture is responsible for this project.

In the transition from the combustion engine to new drives, Daimler Truck relies on batteries and fuel cells. By the end of the decade, zero-emission commercial vehicles are expected to account for up to 60 percent of sales. The manufacturer is one of the world’s leading industry companies and employs more than 100,000 people.

Daimler Truck is involved in several partnerships to set up charging infrastructure for hydrogen. There is an agreement with the energy giants BP, Shell and TotalEnergies to set up hydrogen filling stations.