Daimler Anchors LH2 Supply Push With Hamburg Deal

Daimler Truck, MB Energy, and Kawasaki sign a development agreement to establish a liquid hydrogen supply chain to Europe via Hamburg.

28 May 2026

Daimler Truck, MB Energy, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries signed a Joint Development Agreement during the Hamburg Port Anniversary to study and establish a liquefied hydrogen supply chain to Europe via the Port of Hamburg. The agreement targets commercial hydrogen availability by the early 2030s, aligned with Daimler’s plans for series production of hydrogen trucks at that time.

The partnership is structured around complementary capabilities. MB Energy brings fuel sourcing, trading, and logistics expertise, along with an established service station network that includes sites earmarked for liquid hydrogen conversion at key long-haul logistics hubs. Kawasaki contributes engineering expertise in hydrogen liquefiers, large-scale storage tanks, and liquid hydrogen carrier vessels, drawing on its involvement in international hydrogen shipping projects.

Daimler Truck is preparing a small-series production run of 100 liquid hydrogen fuel cell trucks from its Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth beginning in late 2026. These vehicles, developed through the GenH2 programme, carry up to 85 kilograms of liquid hydrogen and offer ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometres at full load. Refuelling via Daimler’s sLH2 standard takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

The challenge the agreement addresses is structural. Hydrogen vehicle deployment and hydrogen supply infrastructure have historically developed out of step, with each side waiting for the other to achieve sufficient scale before committing capital. By anchoring supply chain development to a defined vehicle rollout timeline, the three companies are attempting to resolve that coordination problem directly. Studies under the agreement will assess the technical and economic viability of the Hamburg import route, with commercial operation targeted for the early 2030s.