Mercedes-Benz begins delivering the first units of its NextGenH2 hydrogen-powered truck

Daimler Truck has begun delivering the first unit of the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 Truck, the second generation of its truck with a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system. This first vehicle will be put into service at the end of this year by logistics company Dachser, and two more units will follow in mid-2027.

These three trucks will operate from Dachser’s logistics centre in Karlsruhe, integrating into its European transport network. The choice of this logistics company was no coincidence, as its location is particularly strategic, being just 30 kilometres from the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth, where dedicated infrastructure exists for refuelling liquid hydrogen.

One of the main innovations of the NextGenH2 Truck is the use of subcooled liquid hydrogen (sLH2), developed jointly by Daimler Truck and Linde. Stored at -253 °C, this fuel offers a much higher energy density than gaseous hydrogen, making it possible to achieve ranges of around 1,000 km, similar to those of a conventional diesel truck. The downside is that, being such an innovative technology, only a few specialised stations in Germany currently allow refuelling with this liquid hydrogen.

“In logistics, to sustainably reduce greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions in long-distance transport, we need powerful and efficient zero-emission vehicles”.

In the road freight transport sector there is room for both electric trucks and those powered by hydrogen

According to Dachser’s management, hydrogen fuel cell trucks will complement the company’s electric fleet in the future, especially on very long-distance routes or where short refuelling times are required.

Daimler Truck plans to produce an initial small series of 100 units of the NextGenH2, of which these three vehicles for Dachser are part. Large-scale serial production is planned for the next decade, and the project enjoys strong public backing from the German authorities.