Daimler Truck, Volvo, and Toyota Join Forces to Scale Up Hydrogen Heavy Trucks in Europe

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 15, Daimler Truck, the Volvo Group, and Toyota Motor Corporation, together with companies including Bosch, Air Liquide, TotalEnergies, TEAL Mobility, and MB Energy, announced a plan for the large-scale deployment of hydrogen heavy trucks in Europe at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, Germany. The plan intends to make Germany the first demonstration market, connecting vehicles, hydrogen supply, refueling stations, and operational support, and to promote the replication of the relevant model in other European countries.

Under the joint plan, the participating companies intend to simultaneously advance fuel cell heavy trucks, hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles, liquid hydrogen and gaseous hydrogen supply chains, and high-capacity refueling infrastructure. The project focuses on transport scenarios such as long distance, heavy loads, and rapid refueling, and positions hydrogen heavy trucks as a complementary technology pathway alongside battery-electric heavy trucks. At present, Germany is regarded by the parties as Europe's first market with conditions for large-scale deployment, and the companies involved plan to gradually establish a relatively complete commercial operating system by 2030.

On the vehicle side, Daimler Truck said that customer testing mileage for its fuel cell heavy trucks has approached 600,000 kilometers. The company plans to begin deploying a small batch of 100 next-generation fuel cell heavy trucks starting at the end of 2026, and to further advance hydrogen internal combustion engine heavy trucks in 2027. The Volvo Group continues to pursue both fuel cell and hydrogen internal combustion engine technology pathways, with the relevant models planned to enter the market by 2030. Toyota mainly provides fuel cell system technology, while Bosch participates in the development of core fuel cell components, gaseous hydrogen systems, and liquid hydrogen and gaseous hydrogen refueling technologies.

On the infrastructure side, Air Liquide, TotalEnergies, TEAL Mobility, and MB Energy will work with vehicle manufacturers to expand hydrogen supply and refueling station networks. The planned high-capacity refueling stations can serve up to about 100 heavy trucks per station per day, and will be prioritized along major European freight corridors, so that the construction of refueling facilities keeps pace with the deployment of hydrogen heavy trucks. Germany's existing NOW support program has already received project applications for more than 70 high-performance hydrogen refueling stations and about 800 heavy commercial vehicles.

The participating companies also regard reducing total lifecycle usage costs as key to large-scale promotion, including lowering vehicle costs by expanding vehicle production, reducing fuel prices by optimizing hydrogen production and transportation chains, and lowering fleet operating expenses through policies such as road toll discounts for zero-emission vehicles. Under the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, hydrogen refueling facilities along European cross-border freight corridors will still need to be continuously improved, which will drive demand for equipment such as high-pressure hydrogen storage, compressors, liquid hydrogen equipment, dispensers, and station-level control systems.

Germany will serve as the actual starting point for implementation, while the participating companies believe that more action is still needed at the European level. They call for coordinated funding programs for vehicles and refueling stations to achieve the goals of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). In addition, these companies advocate establishing a unified calculation mechanism for renewable fuels, introducing economic incentives such as toll discounts, and strengthening risk-sharing across the entire hydrogen value chain.

Through the combination of industrial investment, infrastructure construction, and policy support, the partners hope to create conditions for the large-scale application of hydrogen in European freight transport, while enhancing the competitiveness of the transport industry, energy supply security, and emission reduction levels.