Daimler Trucks in Germany has revealed that it has had a total of more than the equivalent of $AUD 364.8 million (€226 million) in funding approved by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) as well as the German provincial states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate for the development of small-series production and customer deployment of around 100 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) trucks.
Daimler explained that the funding project is part of the European Union’s Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Hydrogen program and covers both the development of trucks as well as production-related activities.
The funding includes feasibility studies for the hydrogen value chain as well as investments in production facilities and the processes for planned series production, according to the company.
It said that key components will be assembled at its various German production sites, with the final assembly of the next-generation fuel cell trucks set to take place at its giant Mercedes-Benz plant at Wörth, a plant claimed to be the World’s biggest truck manufacturing plant.
Daimler Truck said it expects customer deliveries of the 100 IPCEI-funded FCEV trucks to begin by the end of 2026, adding that the success of sustainable transportation will require the development of an international refueling infrastructure and a sufficient supply of cost-competitive green liquid hydrogen.
“The approval of funding for the development and small series production of 100 fuel cell trucks is an important boost for the use of hydrogen in road freight transportation. This funding is a strong signal not only for Daimler Truck but for the entire commercial vehicle industry,” chief executive officer of Daimler Truck, KarinRådström said.
Dr. Volker Wissing, Germany’s Federal Minister for Digital and Transport said that sustainable transport with hydrogen-powered trucks is already possible today.
“Daimler Truck is the first European manufacturer to produce a series-production truck that uses liquid hydrogen, providing an important impulse for the commercial use of hydrogen technology in road freight transportation,” Dr. Wissing said.
“I am pleased that my ministry is supporting the project together with Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate with a total of $AUD 364.8 million. With the deployment of the new fuel cell trucks, we are gaining important insights for the future mix of drive technologies enabling sustainable freight transport,” the minister added
Daniela Schmitt, Rhineland-Palatinate state minister for economics, transport, agriculture and viticulture of the State said the announcement was a good day for the future of the giant Daimler Wörth plant, and a good day for the Rhineland-Palatinate state as a hub for industry and innovation.
“It is also a good day for the international competitiveness of the commercial vehicle industry in Southwest Germany,” said Schmitt.
“The development and production of 100 fuel cell trucks is an impulse for the future of the commercial vehicle industry from Wörth to the world,” she added
Dr. Andre Baumann, the state secretary at the Ministry for the environment, climate and energy said that together they can achieve great things, and advance climate protection.
“I am pleased that this extensive IPCEI project has materialized and will drive forward the ramp-up of hydrogen in the important sector of heavy-duty transportation. The federal state of Baden-Württemberg is pleased to participate in the funding of this innovative project with up to €50 million,” said Dr. Baumann.
Daimler Truck said that on the path to decarbonise transportation with hydrogen-powered trucks, that it had filed an application for funding in 2021 for the development of fuel cell trucks and small series customer deployment in long-distance transport.
The company said that it will now receive around two thirds of the total eligible amount put forward in the funding application, but that it will continue to carry a
with From left to right: Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport Karin Rådström, Daimler Truck CEO; Daniela Schmitt, Rhineland-Palatinate State Secretary and Minister in the Ministry of Economy, Transport, Agriculture, State, and; Dr. Andre Baumann, State Secretary in the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Sector, for the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
significant part of the total investment in the development of fuel cell trucks on its own.
In addition to the development and build-up of the vehicles, the funding will also be used for feasibility studies with regard to the hydrogen value chain as well as investments in required production facilities and processes in preparation for planned series production.
Daimler said that key components are set to be assembled at various German production sites before being made available for final assembly. Two of the plants involved include Kassel where electric drive axles will be built and Mannheim where something called “Tech Tower” will be assembled. The fuel cells are planned to come from the Dainler-Volvo joint venture, Cellcentric’s pilot production in Esslingen before they are assembled into a twin-system at the Gaggenau plant.
Th company says that final assembly of the next generation fuel cell trucks is set to take place at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth and the trucks are expected to go into operation at various customers from the end of 2026 onwards. That is abut two years ahead of the originally scheduled series production estimates for FCEV trucks which was quoted as being 2028.
In the funding assessment, the European Commission identified at an early stage that there was nothing comparable to this project’s deployment of liquid hydrogen, which was positively highlighted within the scope of the program’s criteria.
The company claims that in its liquid aggregate state, the hydrogen energy carrier has a significantly higher energy density by comparison to gaseous hydrogen. This means that more hydrogen can be transported, significantly increasing the range and ultimately enabling comparable performance to a conventional diesel truck.
In addition, transportation efforts can be significantly reduced with liquid hydrogen, while liquid hydrogen tanks are also said to offer cost and weight advantages compared to compressed gaseous hydrogen.
According to Daimler, this means that among other benefits, the use of liquid hydrogen enables a higher payload, .
The company said that this also makes its Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck just as suitable for flexible and demanding long-haul road transportation as conventional diesel trucks.
In September 2023, Daimler Truck says that it successfully demonstrated this, when it ran a public road approved prototype of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, which completed a Hydrogen Record Run, covering a claimed1,047 km on a single tank of liquid hydrogen. The fuel cell trucks funded under the funding program are set to enter customer operations with this tested liquid hydrogen technology.
Daimler said that a 2022 non-binding prospect of funding enabled it to start measures early, and since then, the first prototypes of its fuel cell truck were built with five customers currently deploying them in initial customer trials, which the company says is allowing to to gaini experience with fuel cell vehicles.
The five semi-trailer prime movers are deployed in different long-haul applications on specific routes in Germany and are refueled at two liquid hydrogen filling stations in Wörth am Rhein and another in the Duisburg area.
Daimler Truck and its partner companies said these have created a lighthouse project, demonstrating that decarbonised transport with hydrogen-fueled trucks is already possible today.
It is anticipated that the 100 fuel cell trucks being funded by the project will be delivered from the end of 2026. However, for the transformation towards sustainable transport to succeed, Daimler says it will be necessary to ensure the establishment of an international refuelling infrastructure network in the coming years along with a supply of cost-competitive green liquid hydrogen.
As one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, Daimler Truck said it has committed itself to the Paris Climate Protection Agreement.
The objective is to offer only new vehicles that are CO2-neutral in driving operation in its global core markets, including Europe, the USA and Japan, by 2039.
The company says that battery-electric trucks are the ideal choice for distribution haulage and, in the case of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, for long-distance haulage with regular deployment on plannable routes with suitable distances and charging options.
However the company says fuel cells trucks can be a better solution especially for very flexible and particularly demanding deployment in heavy-duty transport and long-distance haulage.
The company also said that in addition, the availability of infrastructure and sufficient green electricity will be crucial for a successful transition to CO2-neutral technologies.
Daimler Truck said it is convinced that rapid and cost-improved coverage of this energy demand can only be achieved using both technologies.
