Daimler Truck, MB Energy, and Kawasaki Partner on European Liquid Hydrogen Supply Chain

Daimler Truck AG announced a strategic partnership with MB Energy and Kawasaki Heavy Industries to develop a liquid hydrogen supply chain for heavy-duty trucking in Europe. The initiative supports the rollout of 100 Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 hydrogen fuel cell trucks beginning in late 2026.

Under the agreement, Kawasaki will handle cryogenic liquefaction and transport of hydrogen from Japan to the Port of Hamburg using specialized carriers. MB Energy will distribute liquid hydrogen to refueling stations in northern Germany, including new facilities in Lübeck and Neumünster equipped with 700-bar dispensers capable of full refueling in under 15 minutes.

The NextGenH2 trucks store liquid hydrogen at –253 °C in dual 40 kg tanks, providing a total capacity of approximately 85 kg and an operational range exceeding 1,000 km per charge. The vehicles use proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks producing only water vapor as emissions.

The partnership aligns with EU regulations and German investment initiatives. The EU's Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation mandates refueling stations every 200 km on major transport routes by 2030, while Germany's Hydrogen Core Network initiative provides EUR 18.9 billion in investment backing. Commercial operations are targeted for the early 2030s following feasibility studies and infrastructure design phases.

Originally reported by Hydrogen Fuel News. Read the full article →