Daimler starts the second testing phase of the GenH2 fuel cell truck

Alternative Drives Daimler Truck Begins the Second Testing Phase of its Hydrogen Trucks

2025-11-18 By Stefanie Eckardt | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Together with five customers, Daimler Truck has launched the second testing phase of its fuel cell truck, the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck.

The testing of the GenH2 Truck enters its second phase.(Image: Daimler Truck) — The testing of the GenH2 Truck enters its second phase.
(Image: Daimler Truck)

The goal during the one-year testing phase is to gather practical experience with fuel cell trucks in everyday transport operations. Daimler Truck has started the second phase following the completion of the initial testing phase of its Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks. Together with five additional partner companies, the commercial vehicle manufacturer aims to prepare its fuel cell trucks for series production based on real customer requirements.

Hornbach, Reber Logistik, Teva Deutschland alongside the Ratiopharm brand, Rhenus, and DHL Supply Chain will each continuously operate a Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck on their regular logistics routes within Germany. The aim is to test cross-industry applications and simulate additional operating scenarios. Moreover, all insights gained will be directly incorporated into the further development of the vehicle as well as into preparatory measures for sales and service processes.

Liquid Hydrogen

All five fuel cell trucks will be used by the partners over the course of a year on different routes under real conditions in various logistics applications. These range from temperature-controlled pharmaceutical transport to general cargo in international long-haul operations. The Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, as a fuel cell truck with a total weight of around 44 short tons and a payload of approximately 28 short tons, offers technical features similar to those of diesel long-haul vehicles. The fuel cell system provides a continuous output of up to 300 kW, complemented by a small auxiliary battery to support peak loads and energy recovery during braking.

The energy source used is liquid hydrogen, which offers significant advantages compared to gaseous hydrogen: higher energy density allows for greater range per tank fill and reduced transport efforts. The vehicles are refueled at designated liquid hydrogen refueling stations (sLH2) in Wörth am Rhein and the Duisburg region (Germany). During the initial practical trial, the five fuel cell trucks have already covered a total of over 140,000 miles. Depending on the application, the average hydrogen consumption ranged between 20 and 28 lb per 100 miles, with an average total vehicle weight between 18 and 38 short tons.

Expansion of the Infrastructure Necessary

In parallel with the second testing phase, the company has started the development phase for new fuel cell trucks. As part of the small-series production, a total of 100 semi-trucks will be built at the Wörth plant and will enter practical operation with various customers from the end of 2026.

In decarbonizing transport, Daimler Truck is pursuing a dual strategy with battery- and hydrogen-powered vehicles. However, the expansion of hydrogen refueling stations is progressing significantly slower than expected. As a result, companies will not be able to deploy hydrogen trucks in larger numbers in the coming years. Therefore, the large-scale industrialization of fuel cells and the planned series production of hydrogen-powered trucks, with a focus on Europe, is scheduled for the early 2030s.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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