Heavy-duty Mercedes fuel cell truck will have 1,000km range

Daimler Trucks is to begin trials of its 40-tonne Mercedes-Benz GenH2 fuel cell truck in 2023, with series production starting in the second half of this decade.

The vehicle uses liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen, which has a higher density. This gives the vehicle a 1,000km range, which is comparable to that of a diesel-powered truck.

Earlier this year Daimler and Volvo Trucks announced details of a collaboration to produce and sell fuel cell systems for heavy-duty trucks.

Daimler has also presented the Mercedes eActros LongHaul, a battery-powered truck with a 500km range, which will go into series production in 2024.

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• Daimler/Volvo joint venture reaches major milestone with launch of Daimler Truck Fuel Cell subsidiary
• Daimler and Volvo in new joint venture to launch first hydrogen powered trucks by 2024
• Daimler to deliver fully driverless truck to market within a decade

Meanwhile its eActros rigid, which has been trialled with customers for the past two years, will be on sale next year.

Martin Daum, chairman of the board of management at Daimler Trucks, said: “This combination enables us to offer our customers the best vehicle options, depending on the application. Battery power will be rather used for lower cargo weights and for shorter distances. Fuel-cell power will tend to be the preferred option for heavier loads and longer distances.”

He also announced the company’s ambition to offer only new vehicles that are CO2-neutral in driving operation (from tank to wheel) in Europe, North America and Japan by 2039.

• Full details and more images of the zero-emission Mercedes trucks will be revealed on motortransport.co.uk over the coming weeks.