Hydrogen Innovation: KEYOU Hands Over First 18t Truck to Pioneering Customer EP Trans

As part of the Hydrogen Dialogue 2024, KEYOU handed over the first 18-ton truck from its pioneering fleet to EP Trans in the presence of Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger. The logistics company from Regensburg in the Upper Palatinate had already signed the first contract for one of the coveted KEYOU-inside 18-ton trucks at transport logistic 2023, but the handover had been delayed several times due to delivery problems with a key component. The official commissioning of the vehicle, which is expected to be used on a route in Bavaria for an international steel group, is now scheduled for early 2025 at the latest.

Vehicle bodywork completed at Paul Nutzfahrzeuge, delivery to take place shortly
The integration work for the first pioneer vehicles was carried out by KEYOU's long-standing partner Paul Nutzfahrzeuge in Vilshofen near Passau. The commercial vehicle experts were already responsible for the construction of the two KEYOU prototype vehicles - the 12-meter city bus and the 18-ton truck, which served as the model for the pioneer vehicles that have now been completed. The 18-ton trucks, which are based on a Daimler Actros chassis and equipped with a converted 7.8-liter Deutz engine with KEYOU-inside system and a fully automatic transmission from Allison Transmission, were recently handed over to the Munich-based hydrogen experts. After some tests and final optimizations, the vehicle will soon be approved for road use.

The first vehicle has now been formally handed over to pioneering customer EP Trans at this year's Hydrogen Dialogue in Nuremberg. The handover was originally scheduled for the end of 2023, but was delayed several times over the course of the year due to delivery problems at the supplier of a key component. The Bavarian State Minister for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, Hubert Aiwanger, was also on site to officially accompany the handover and congratulate those involved on this important milestone.

Route of the first 18-tonne truck with a hydrogen engine leads right across Bavaria
KEYOU's H2 truck is an important step towards decarbonizing EP Trans's truck fleet and therefore also the end customer's supply chain. The planned route is still being finalized, but the logistics company is expected to deploy the truck in Bavaria for an international steel group and benefit from the numerous advantages of the technology. “It was clear to us from the outset that electric trucks were out of the question for our purposes. At the same time, sustainability is of course also an important issue for us and our customers. That's why we were convinced by KEYOU's technology and concept right from the start,” explains Markus Pumpf, Managing Director of EP Trans. “Being able to deliver to our customers emission-free without compromising on range or efficiency or having to put up with long charging times was unimaginable for us for a long time. The fact that KEYOU's offer also saves us the CO2 toll and, thanks to the all-inclusive package, we don't have to worry about issues such as insurance or servicing and maintenance of the vehicle is an additional plus point. The delays were of course a shame for us too, but we are all the more pleased that we will soon be able to get started,” says Georg Ehrlinger, also Managing Director of EP Trans.

After the pioneer fleet comes the long haul: KEYOU launches sales of its 40-tonner
The advantages of the hydrogen engine over other drive technologies are particularly evident in the long-haul segment and therefore in the heavy-duty segment. In order to fully exploit this potential, KEYOU has initiated a strategic realignment with its appearance at the IAA and will focus exclusively on the development and launch of its 40-tonne range following the successful market launch of its 18-tonne pioneer fleet. The first Actros-based 40-ton trucks with KEYOU-inside hydrogen engines are set to roll off the production line as early as 2026. The model that KEYOU is currently working on is based on a Daimler Actros with a 12.8-liter engine and will have an output of 346 kW. As with the 18t truck, hydrogen tanks based on 350 bar will be installed. With the planned tank volume, a range of around 650 kilometers should be possible. The company announced the official sales launch at the end of November with a time-limited sales offer.