Volvo, Daimler plan shift to hydrogen-fuelled trucks

Volvo and Daimler are anticipating a permanent shift towards hydrogen-fuelled trucks during this same decade and preparing for the change through the launch of their joint-venture, Cellcentric.

The JV is set to stat start fuel cell production for hydrogen-powered heavy trucks capable of driving long distances, with its backers also projecting that diesel-fuelled trucks will begin to be phased out towards the end of the decade.

Martin Daum, chair of industry leader Daimler Truck, told the Financial Times that while diesel trucks would dominate sales for the next three to four years, hydrogen would take off as fuel between 2027 and 2030 - before going “steeply up”.

Martin Lundstedt, chief executive of Volvo Group, said that once fuel-cell production started in 2025, a “much steeper ramp-up” would follow towards the end of the decade.

Volvo aims for half of its trucks sold in Europe to be powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells by 2030.

Both manufacturers want to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, the FT also reported.

They were also urging governments to ensure that the necessary fuel infrastructure was in place for hydrogen and to provide sufficient incentives for transport companies to shift to greener trucks.

On their estimates, around 300 high-performance hydrogen refuelling points would be needed in Europe by 2025 and 1,000 by 2030