Daimler Trucks Unveils GenH2 Truck: Balancing Battery-Electric and Hydrogen-Powered Solutions
Key Ideas
  • Daimler Trucks introduces the eActros 600, a battery-electric truck with extended ranges, while also testing the GenH2 truck powered by hydrogen for future production.
  • The GenH2 truck utilizes liquid hydrogen, offering advantages in cost, weight, energy density, and payload capacity, with impressive performance figures and a total range of 1047 km.
  • Five H2 tractor units will undergo practical tests with major customers like Amazon and Holcim in Germany, highlighting the need for a hydrogen refueling infrastructure for sustainable transportation.
  • Industry leaders call on politicians to establish a hydrogen filling station network urgently, emphasizing the importance of technological diversity and cost parity with conventional vehicles for successful adoption.
Daimler Trucks has revealed its innovative approach to sustainable transportation with the introduction of the eActros 600, a battery-electric truck set for series production in late 2024, alongside the development of the GenH2 truck fueled by hydrogen. The company aims to leverage insights from testing five H2 tractor units with major customers to advance series production by the end of the decade. Utilizing hydrogen in liquid form, the GenH2 truck boasts two tanks with 88 kg total capacity, enhancing energy density and payload compared to gaseous hydrogen tanks. The truck's drivetrain combines fuel cell technology delivering up to 300 kW with a 70 kWh battery for optimal performance and a remarkable total range of 1047 km. The practical tests will involve various logistics applications, with refueling planned at two liquid hydrogen stations in Germany. Industry leaders like Daimler Trucks' Martin Daum and VDA President Hildegard Müller emphasize the necessity for supportive political measures in establishing a comprehensive hydrogen refueling infrastructure and ensuring cost parity with traditional vehicles. While Muller acknowledges the challenges of sourcing green hydrogen at scale, she underscores the importance of technological diversity in sustainable transportation. The article highlights the critical role of politicians, the Federal Network Agency, and the energy industry in driving the development of hydrogen infrastructure and supporting the transition to climate-neutral mobility solutions. The potential of hydrogen as a driving energy source for heavy commercial vehicles is recognized, urging collaboration between industry and policymakers to overcome challenges and promote the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the future.
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