Daimler Truck

At IAA Transportation, Daimler Truck together with Volvo, Toyota, Bosch, Air Liquide, TotalEnergies, Teal Mobility and MB Energy presented a concept for a scalable hydrogen infrastructure for heavy commercial vehicles and named Germany a suitable blueprint country. The companies call for coordinated action by national governments and the EU so that hydrogen trucks are not disadvantaged versus diesel on total cost of ownership. Proposed measures include state purchase incentives, series production to reduce prices, more efficient supply chains, crediting toward greenhouse gas quotas and possible toll exemptions. Daimler Truck CEO Karin Rådström stresses the parallel use of battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trucks as complementary solutions for climate-friendly road freight transport. » More on deraktionaer.de

Eight companies led by Daimler Truck, including Volvo, Toyota, Bosch and energy providers, form an alliance to accelerate the build-out of hydrogen infrastructure for heavy-duty transport. Daimler Truck plans to trial a small series of 100 fuel-cell trucks with customers from the end of 2026, with the first vehicle being put into service by Dachser. The goal is a scalable market ramp-up by 2030, and the targeted price for green hydrogen is around six euros per kilogram. The federal government is topping up the initiative with a €220 million funding program and plans at least 35 refuelling stations as well as subsidies for more than 500 hydrogen trucks. » More on faz.net

Daimler Truck CEO Karin Rådström says she is concerned that electrification is progressing more slowly than expected: only about six percent of trucks are electric, which, if the ramp-up remains weak, could mean EU fines and earnings losses. At the same time, fierce competition from low-cost Chinese suppliers and the anticipated European market entry of the Tesla Semi threatens. MAN is responding with billion-euro investments in electrification and autonomous systems, while industry experts and the works council are calling for a joint European battery manufacturing industry. It remains unclear which market structure will prevail in the long run for electrification. » More on wiwo.de