Daimler Truck has concluded testing of next-generation Mercedes-Benz liquid hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the cold and snow of the Swiss Alps.
Two GenH2 trucks were tested at the Simplon Pass in the canton of Valais to validate their fuel cells, batteries, e-axles, hydrogen tanks, and thermal management.
Climbing from 600 metres to over 2,000 metres, Dr. Rainer Müller-Finkeldei, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Product Engineering, said the route provided good conditions for testing the interplay of the fuel cell system with other components.
The testing lasted 14 days, with the two trucks covering 6,500km and climbing a combined 83,000 metres, where they tackled 20km-long uphill and downhill stretches with gradients of up to 12%.
The vehicles were refuelled by a mobile Air Products hydrogen refuelling station in Valais.
“The successful tests have underlined the potential and reliability of the GenH2 Trucks, even under demanding conditions,” Müller-Finkeldei said.
The trials are part of a €225m ($243m) German federal and state government-funded project to develop, manufacture and deploy 100 fuel cell trucks from 2026.
Yet, Daimler’s progress comes amid mounting pressures on the sector. Q1 2025 has seen high-level casualties from the hydrogen-powered commercial mobility space.
It’s a complex puzzle. Fleet operators face uncertainty regarding how zero-emission trucks will fit into their business models and infrastructure players seek assurances that their investments in fuelling and charging stations will pay off.
It boils down to the tough incumbent all zero-emission solutions face. According to McKinsey, for a fuel cell truck to reach cost parity by 2030 per kilometre with a diesel alternative, hydrogen pump prices would need to be reduced by 55% to $5.70/kg, and up-front vehicle costs would need to be reduced by 50% to $200,000.
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