The BMW Group has acquired two zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell trucks for a pilot project under its European H2Haul programme, aimed at promoting hydrogen power in freight transport.
BMW announced last week that the two trucks will operate between Leipzig, Landsberg, and Nuremberg in Germany to assess the practicality of hydrogen fuel technology.
Two state-of-the-art hydrogen refuelling stations are being constructed in Leipzig and Hormersdorf to support the initiative.
These stations will provide rapid refuelling with large quantities of hydrogen, a key component for the continuous operation of fuel cell trucks in logistics. The BMW Group is collaborating with Iveco, DHL, and TEAL Mobility on the H2Haul project.
Michael Nikolaides, BMW Group’s head of production network and logistics, emphasized the company’s commitment to technological advancement in transport logistics.
“In global logistics, selecting the right means of transport is crucial for efficient, forward-looking operations,” Nikolaides stated. “For the first time, hydrogen-powered trucks will be used in serial operation for German automobile production.
We’ve been working with our partners for several years to implement this pilot fleet. This project is a key milestone in gaining operational experience and advancing this important technology.”
The H2Haul project aims to test hydrogen trucks equipped with fuel cell drivetrains under real-world conditions and evaluate their potential to help decarbonize heavy-duty transport. This will lay the foundation for the commercialisation of fuel cell trucks in Europe.
The project is funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and involves 16 trucks operating across various European countries, including the two IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell trucks used by BMW Group Logistics in Germany.
The findings from this pilot will help advance hydrogen fuel cell technology toward market maturity and open the door for widespread adoption in road freight.
Hydrogen trucks, with their short refuelling times and extended ranges, complement the electric trucks already in use at BMW, particularly for long-haul routes.
Participation in the H2Haul project aligns with BMW’s strategy to reduce logistics emissions and move towards zero-emission transport logistics, furthering its commitment to meeting climate goals.
