Daimler Collaborates with Amazon on Fuel Cell Truck Testing - Tech Today
Daimler Truck, in collaboration with longtime rival Volvo, is spearheading the adoption of zero-emission heavy-duty transport with hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks. The company's GenH2 trucks, based on a conventional Mercedes-Benz Actros cabover longhaul truck, are set to undergo trials in Europe and beyond.
The Wörth am Rhein plant, Daimler Truck's production hub that recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and boasts a daily production capacity of up to 470 trucks, will be the birthplace of the GenH2 trucks.
The GenH2 trucks are equipped with two liquid hydrogen tanks and a fuel cell system, offering comparable performance to that of a conventional diesel truck while significantly increasing the range. The refueling process, known as "sLH2 technology," allows for higher storage density and refueling times of around 10-15 minutes.
Amazon, ranked as the No. 1 on the Transport Topics Top 50 Global Freight Carriers list and No. 9 on the TT Top 100 private carriers list, is a significant participant in these trials. Amazon Transportation Services vice president, Andreas Marschner, stated that Amazon is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040, and the decarbonization of its transport network plays a crucial role in achieving this milestone.
Industrial gas specialist Air Products plans to convert its entire global fleet to hydrogen-powered vehicles. Air Products will provide some of the refueling infrastructure and hydrogen as part of the GenH2 truck trials. The company's general manager hydrogen for mobility, Europe and Africa, Caroline Stancell, stated that the GenH2 truck will be deployed in Air Products' existing fleet to transport cylinder gases.
Chemicals company Ineos intends to use the GenH2 truck to transport dry bulk polyvinyl chloride. Holcim Group's Gerdes + Landwehr unit plans to transport granulates and minerals during the GenH2 truck pilot program.
The fuel cell system of the GenH2 delivers 300 kilowatts, with an additional 400 kW provided by a battery. Daimler Truck aims to offer a lineup of vehicles that are CO2-neutral when being driven in its core markets of Europe, the U.S., and Japan by 2039.
The Cellcentric partnership between Daimler and Volvo is a way for the two companies to defray individual investments in developing fuel cell technology. The Milence joint venture, a collaboration between Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, recently opened phase one of its first charging hub in Venlo, Netherlands.
These trials mark a significant step towards decarbonizing long-distance trucking, a major emitter of greenhouse gases. Hydrogen fuel cell trucks offer advantages over purely battery-electric trucks, such as longer range and faster refueling, essential for heavy freight over long distances.
Moreover, the shift to green hydrogen produced via renewable energy sources ensures that the fuel cell trucks deliver ultra-low life-cycle emissions. Daimler Truck aims to build one of Europe’s largest fuel cell manufacturing plants in South Germany and pursues a dual strategy of hydrogen and battery-electric trucks to reduce emissions in heavy transport.
In summary, Daimler, Amazon, Air Products, Ineos, Holcim, and Wiedmann & Winz are actively participating in initial customer trials of hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks, aiming to advance the adoption of zero-emission heavy-duty transport. Their efforts collectively mark a foundational phase that could significantly lower emissions in long-distance trucking, which is vital to achieving climate targets in the transportation sector.
Finance and technology play critical roles in the adoption of zero-emission heavy-duty transport with hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks. Industrial gas specialist Air Products plans to invest in converting its entire global fleet to hydrogen-powered vehicles, and will provide refueling infrastructure and hydrogen as part of the GenH2 truck trials. Meanwhile, Daimler Truck aims to build one of Europe’s largest fuel cell manufacturing plants in South Germany, showcasing the company's commitment to technology and finance in this transition towards a more sustainable energy landscape.
