Meet the hydrogen trucks that are coming

The European Commission together with more than 150 partners, among which are large automotive manufacturers such as Toyota, Hyundai or BMW, has created the Hydrogen Europe consortium to promote hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels.

25% of the emissions of the European Union come from trucks and therefore, within the objectives to move towards a totally sustainable mobility, this is one of the star proposals to achieve this objective.

According to Hydrogen Europe, hydrogen seems to be a viable fuel and very suitable for long-distance transport with trucks of more than 16 tons.

The plan they have established progressively increases the presence of this fuel on European roads. They intend to have between 5,000 and 10,000 hydrogen-powered trucks in Europe by 2025. In 10 years they consider it very likely that 95,000 trucks will already use this fuel.

In addition to obtaining the support of the manufacturing brands so that these numbers are met, the consortium has another challenge: to ensure the refueling of hydrogen. Taking into account that it is calculated that each truck will require an average of 10 tons of hydrogen per year, in 2030 950,000 tons of hydrogen will be needed per year.

This is why the consortium has also established a plan for the implementation of so-called hydrogenerators or hydrolineras, which allow these vehicles to be refueled on a regular basis.

This plan aims to ensure that by 2030 there will already be 1,000 active hydrogen power plants in the European territory, with 100 active in 2025.

The refueling process with hydrogen does not differ much from the traditional one with gasoline or diesel, and the refueling times of a truck are very similar.

Currently, several models of heavy duty trucks that run on hydrogen have already been presented, both in testing or development and even already in series production.

We make a brief summary of the most relevant of the moment, but we are convinced that this industry will not cease to surprise us with new models, better performance and higher autonomy, as the implementation of hydrogen for transport progresses .

The first to be mass-produced

Starting this month, some of the companies with truck fleets in Switzerland will begin to receive the first orders for the Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell. The model holds the honor of being the first series-produced hydrogen-powered model.

The Xcient Fuel Cell has seven tanks that store about 32 kilos of hydrogen, which can be recharged in 8-20 minutes. This gives it a range of 400 kilometers, although with nuances, because aspects such as the weight of the load or the unevenness of the route could considerably alter this data.

The commitment of the South Korean brand to Switzerland is due to the fact that, thanks to current Swiss regulations, trucks with zero emissions do not pay registration tax. Currently, until this industry improves the technology, the cost per kilometer is higher in hydrogen trucks compared to diesel. This Swiss tax advantage makes it possible to equalize the cost of both propulsion systems and has therefore been key to being viable in business terms.

In testing in Los Angeles.

After being pioneers with the first hybrid cars, Toyota could not be left behind and also presents its proposal. It is a joint project with the American brand Kenworth.

Basically they have adapted two hydrogen engines from Toyota's fuel cell sedan, the Mirai, to a Kenworth T680s. With this they have achieved a powerful 670 hp truck that will have a range of 320 kilometers.

At the moment it is being tested in the port of Los Angeles, and it will be a tough test since 40% of all containers in the United States move through that port.

In development. Available in 2023-2024.

With forms of science fiction, this is the commitment of the first brand to produce hydrogen trucks in series for the near future. The benefits have not yet transpired but its interior is impressive.

And he doesn't come alone. Hyundai introduces you with a new refrigerated trailer model, the HT Nitro ThermoTech. As promised, this trailer will be able to maintain the interior temperature much more stable, efficiently (90% less emissions) and quietly. It has a design that allows the outside temperature not to affect the inside temperature.

In development. As of 2025.

Although it is a prototype and the first tests are not expected until 2023, Mercedes' commitment promises. At the moment it promises 1,000 kilometers without refueling, with its two hydrogen tanks that will carry a total of 80 kilos, a MMA of 40 tons and a payload of 25 tons. All this inside a futuristic and elegant tractor head.

The brand is also preparing two electric trucks that will begin production in 2021 and 2024: A heavy truck for distribution transport, the eActros, with 200 kilometers of autonomy and eActros Lobg Haul, with 500 kilometers of autonomy .