Germany’s Daimler has highlighted the potential to deploy hydrogen fuel-cell trucks by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Emirati renewables developer Masdar to explore the feasibility of liquid green hydrogen exports from Abu Dhabi to Europe by 2030.

On announcing the MOU in late January, the German truck maker also flagged its plans to deploy a trial fleet of Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks in mid-2024.

Daimler’s tie up with Masdar aligns with a growing view in the transport sector that hydrogen fuel cells could win out over battery-electric engines in the post-diesel heavy-duty truck market.  

This argument is based on the perceived advantages of hydrogen, especially in the long-haul market, including faster refuelling and greater range. The sheer weight and size of batteries needed for long-haul trucking also points to greater efficiency in using hydrogen, according to some, although Daimler’s view is that batteries actually offer greater efficiency overall.  

Despite its hydrogen push, the German company is keen to emphasise that it is “consistently implementing a dual-track strategy” as it hedges its bets on the direction of travel.

It also signed an MOU in January with cement company Holcim to supply 1,000 of its Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 battery-electric trucks.

Refuelling

Daimler’s agreement with Masdar is designed to address concerns over the security of hydrogen supply to feed long-haul trucking. Another closely related concern is the need for a workable refuelling network with sufficient coverage to reassure haulage firms.

TotalEnergies’ hydrogen refuelling ambitions also extend to passenger cars and light vans and buses

French energy major TotalEnergies and industrial gases company Air Liquide went some way to addressing those concerns in late January with the launch of a joint venture aimed at offering a network of 100 refuelling stations for heavy-duty trucks on major European corridors. TotalEnergies’ hydrogen refuelling ambitions also extend to passenger cars and light vans and buses, but fellow oil majors BP and Shell are both focused closely on the heavy-duty sector.

Last year, the European Parliament and European Council reached an agreement on an Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, which sets targets for zero-carbon mobility infrastructure along major European roads.

The legislation mandates the construction of one gaseous hydrogen refuelling station every 200km along the planned Trans-European Transport Network, as well as one per urban node, by the end of 2030.

This all points to hydrogen potentially carving out a niche in heavy-duty trucking. But this could change as battery technology advances, perhaps vindicating Daimler’s dual-track strategy.

---

Author: Stuart Penson