Daimler and Volvo launch hydrogen hook-up

Daimler Truck and Volvo Group have officially launched cellcentric, their joint-venture enterprise to develop hydrogen fuel cells as a power source for future generations of electric long-haul trucks.

Their goal is to commence customer tests of fuel-cell trucks in about three years and to have series production of fuel-cell trucks start during the second half of this decade. The manufacturers’ vehicle-related activities are carried out independently from each other, as both companies remain competitors in all vehicle and product ranges, and particularly in fuel-cell integration solutions for all products.

cellcentric will commence large-scale production of fuel cell systems by 2025, but its parent companies warned that a harmonised EU hydrogen policy would be required to support the technology if it were to become a viable commercial solution, and help meet the published objectives of a carbon-neutral Europe with a sustainable transport system by 2050.

Besides long-haul transport, cellcentric will supply fuel cells for other applications, but both Mercedes-Benz and Fuso parent Daimler, and Volvo Group which controls Volvo and Renault Trucks, said that batteries will be the principal energy source for lower-weight trucks travelling shorter distances.

Martin Daum, chairman of Daimler Truck and a director of Daimler AG, said: “Hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric trucks will be key for enabling CO2- neutral transportation in the future. In combination with pure battery-electric drives, it enables us to offer our customers the best genuinely locally CO2-neutral vehicle options, depending on the application. Battery-electric trucks alone will not make this possible.

“Together with our partner Volvo Group, we are therefore fully committed to our fuel-cell joint venture, cellcentric, and we are both pushing forward the development of the technology as well as the series production preparations. Regarding the necessary hydrogen infrastructure, it is clear that green hydrogen is the only sensible way forward in the long term.”

Martin Lundstedt, CEO of Volvo Group, said: “Our united ambition is to meet the targets in the Paris agreement of becoming CO2-neutral by 2050 at the latest. We are convinced that hydrogen fuel-cell technology plays an essential role in helping us reach that milestone. But we know there is so much more to achieve than just the electrification of machines and vehicles.

“There needs to be greater cooperation between public and private stakeholders to develop the necessary technology and infrastructure, which is why we are calling for united action from policymakers and governments around the world in helping us make hydrogen fuel-cell technology a success. Partnerships like cellcentric are vital to our commitment to decarbonising road transport.”

The major truck manufacturers in Europe, including Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, have called for the setup of around 300 high-performance hydrogen refuelling stations suitable for heavy-duty vehicles by 2025 and of around 1,000 hydrogen refuelling stations no later than 2030 in Europe (Transport Operator, 99). This joint initiative, using hydrogen as a carrier of green electricity to power electric trucks in long-haul operations, is an important part of decarbonising road transport.

As CO2-neutral trucks are currently significantly more expensive than conventional vehicles, a policy framework is needed to ensure customer demand and affordability ag-ainst diesels and other existing technology. According to Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, this should include incentives for CO2-neutral technologies and a taxation system based on carbon and energy content. An emissions trading system could be an additional option.

Currently, cellcentric is conceptualising the plans for its large-scale series production. More details and a decision on the location will be revealed in 2022. As a major step towards mass production, preparations for pre-series production are taking place at a new site in Esslingen near Stuttgart. In parallel, cellcentric is scaling up ongoing prototype output.