Hydrogen Hits the Highway!

Daimler trials liquid hydrogen trucks for long-haul freight

25 Jan 2025

Daimler Truck is putting liquid hydrogen to the test, and with it, the future of long-haul freight in Europe. In partnership with firms such as Amazon, Holcim and INEOS, the German truckmaker has begun piloting five hydrogen-powered lorries on public roads. It is one of the continent’s first real-world demonstrations of cryogenic hydrogen in logistics.

The technology diverges from most hydrogen-powered vehicles, which rely on compressed gas. By using hydrogen cooled to minus 253°C and stored as a liquid, Daimler’s prototype trucks can travel over 1,000km on a single tank. That is roughly equivalent to the range of diesel, and more than double that of most battery-electric trucks, which are hampered by weight and charging times.

The trials, centred around fueling stations in Woerth am Rhein and Duisburg, aim to gauge the practicality of this low-emission technology in real-world conditions. “This isn’t theory,” says a project lead. “It’s real data from real roads.” Backers hope this data will shape infrastructure decisions, especially as the EU pours billions into hydrogen supply chains under its Green Deal plans.

The pilot also involves Air Products and Wiedmann & Winz, which are providing fuel logistics and technical support. Initial feedback suggests that performance rivals diesel in reliability and range without the emissions. Yet challenges persist. Producing liquid hydrogen remains energy-intensive, and handling it safely requires costly cryogenic systems. The infrastructure for refueling is almost nonexistent outside the pilot sites.

Still, Daimler’s effort may be timely. Policymakers are looking for scalable alternatives to electrification, which remains unconvincing for high-mileage freight. Liquid hydrogen could offer one such path if its energy use can be justified by operational gains.

The trucks are already racking up kilometres and feeding back performance data. A commercial rollout by 2026 is the next milestone. For an industry under pressure to clean up quickly, this may be the clearest signal yet that hydrogen is not just hot air.