Daimler Truck plans to invest several hundred million euros in hydrogen-powered trucks by the end of the decade as it pursues a dual strategy to decarbonise road transport.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Karin Rådström, said the German truckmaker had invested significantly in battery-electric vehicles but was now increasing its focus on hydrogen technology.
“We have invested a lot in battery-electric vehicles, but now we are taking the next step and putting a lot of money into making hydrogen a success,” Rådström said.
She said hydrogen-powered vehicles could help reduce emissions from road transport in Europe, particularly for customers who require greater payload capacity and longer driving ranges.
Refuelling hydrogen vehicles is also considerably faster than fully charging a battery, while the expansion of electricity infrastructure could face limitations, she said.
“There are clear use cases where our customers really need the payload and the range,” Rådström said, adding that such cases represented a relatively small percentage of overall use.
She explained that both battery-electric and hydrogen technologies could be suitable in many situations, with the choice depending on factors such as the prices of hydrogen and electricity in individual countries and the availability of suitable infrastructure.
“We do not want to make the same mistake that was made in electric mobility,” Rådström said.
“That is why we are trying to build partnerships at a very early stage and make sure the entire ecosystem develops.”
Daimler Truck said it was working with companies in the transport, energy and industrial sectors to develop a hydrogen ecosystem, with more details expected at a trade fair in Hanover next week.
The company has offered battery-electric trucks for some time, although they still account for a small share of its total sales.
After testing prototypes, Daimler Truck plans to place a small series of 100 hydrogen-powered vehicles into customer use from the end of this year.
