Europe faces a critical challenge: how to lead in climate protection while keeping its industries competitive amid high energy costs and weak infrastructure. According to Andreas Gorbach (Daimler Truck), hydrogen offers a vital solution to this dilemma.
“Hydrogen infrastructure must be built now” — this is Gorbach’s main message, shared in a detailed piece for Germany’s Hydrogen Week. He emphasized that hydrogen is essential for net-zero transport, with hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric trucks working together to cut freight emissions. Hydrogen enables quick refuelling, long range, and grid-balancing – all crucial for long-haul transport where batteries alone fall short.
Daimler is already testing GenH2 hydrogen trucks and plans to expand trials with 100 vehicles by 2026. The company sees hydrogen as key not just for decarbonizing trucks, but for unlocking the value of Europe’s surplus renewables.
Hydrogen at scale could create up to 500,000 skilled jobs in Europe by 2030. Costs are expected to fall, with €5/kg hydrogen becoming achievable by the end of the decade — a tipping point for commercial viability.
The time to act is now if Europe wants to lead in hydrogen and clean freight.
Images: Daimler Truck
…and more trucks:
Hydrogen fuel cell trucks in test operation in Germany
DHL Freight and BMW Group, along with other partners, have begun real-world testing of hydrogen fuel-cell heavy-duty trucks. This pilot test is part of the European H2Haul project promoting hydrogen mobility. The goal of the trials is to validate hydrogen’s viability in logistics and the results are encouraging: quick ~25-minute refueling, 700+ km range, and seamless integration into daily operations. With 16 trucks across four European sites planned, results will guide future commercialization.
Image: BMW Group
Germany pushes ambitious RFNBO transport mandate
Germany’s Environment Ministry has proposed a draft law requiring green hydrogen and its derivatives (RFNBO) to make up 12% of all transport fuels by 2040, significantly exceeding the EU’s RED III target of 1% by 2030. The new mandates set annual RFNBO quotas up to 2040, integrating Germany’s ambition to scale green hydrogen use in road, rail, maritime, and aviation sectors well beyond current EU requirements.
