Daimler Truck Presents NextGenH2 Truck in Small Series

Daimler Truck has unveiled the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 for the first time. The hydrogen-powered fuel-cell truck is intended to represent a further development step toward sustainable, hydrogen-based drivetrain solutions in heavy-duty road freight transport. As part of a small-series production run, around 100 tractor units are to be manufactured at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth and tested in real-world operations with selected customers from the end of 2026.

As early as the end of 2023, Daimler Truck had demonstrated the performance of liquid hydrogen (LH2) in long-haul heavy-duty transport as part of the so-called #HydrogenRecordRun. In this context, a Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck with a gross combination weight of around 40 tonnes covered a distance of 1,047 kilometers on a single fill of liquid hydrogen. The use of LH2 enables a higher payload and operational capabilities comparable to those of conventional diesel trucks.

The NextGenH2 Truck is equipped with two fuel-cell units in a twin system that together provide an output of 300 kilowatts. It uses the BZA150 fuel-cell module from cellcentric, a joint venture between Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group. The truck can be refueled with up to 85 kilograms of liquid hydrogen in around 10 to 15 minutes. Average hydrogen consumption—depending on the total weight between 16 and 34 tonnes—ranges from around 5.6 to 8 kilograms per 100 kilometers.

As a further development of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, the vehicle is designed in particular for flexible and demanding applications in long-distance heavy-duty transport. Technical innovations include, among other things, a further-developed integrated e-axle. This enables efficient recuperation when driving downhill, charging a buffer battery to increase range. Other characteristic features of the fuel-cell truck include dynamic power delivery thanks to immediately available high torque, smooth and comfortable driving behavior, and low noise levels both inside and outside the vehicle. A 4-speed transmission with two reverse gears ensures optimal power delivery at all times.

Daimler Truck views hydrogen-based drivetrains as an important complement to battery-electric solutions in the sustainable transformation of road freight transport. According to Achim Puchert, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, the NextGenH2 Truck marks the next technological step for fuel-cell trucks. Together with customers, the company aims to test the small series—featuring long range and near-production technology—in real transport operations through the end of 2026.