Hydrogen Central

Colruyt Group and AB Inbev to develop the market for hydrogen trucks in Belgium

Colruyt AB Inbev hydrogen trucks

Colruyt Group and AB Inbev want to start with emission-free deliveries by hydrogen trucks, between the respective logistics hubs in Belgium. With a view to zero-emission transport, the two companies want to further build on the hydrogen economy for heavy transport in Belgium. The top managers of both companies, Jef Colruyt, CEO of Colruyt Group and Fabio Sala, Chairman of AB InBev BeNeFraLux, signed a letter of intent.

Green hydrogen as a promising solution for heavy transport

Colruyt Group and AB Inbev are convinced that green hydrogen is a promising zero-emission solution for heavy freight transport. Both parties therefore want to further develop the market for green hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cell trucks in collaboration with their transport partners. 

The collaboration means that both parties will investigate the roll-out of hydrogen trucks and filling stations on a large scale. In the next 5 years, both parties want to work together to accelerate the transition of the hydrogen economy by establishing a 360-degree H2 ecosystem: renewable hydrogen production, a network of hydrogen refueling stations and hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Initially, the project focuses on Belgium. To develop the hydrogen ecosystem in our country, AB Inbev &

Phase 1: Setting up first pilot projects

  • AB Inbev & Colruyt Group will involve their transport partners in their pursuit of zero emissions.
  • Both parties will build up joint expertise: AB InBev will be the first supplier to use the hydrogen truck that Colruyt Group previously tested in its logistics chain (a European first).
  • AB Inbev & Colruyt Group want to set up a ‘dedicated lane’ for the hydrogen truck between their logistics hubs.
  • Both parties will investigate the roll-out of hydrogen trucks and filling stations.

Phase 2: Roll-out of the first stations and trucks

  • Hydrogen stations (with large capacity) of DATS 24, the fuel supplier of the Colruyt Group, in order to launch the market.
  • Purchase of hydrogen trucks.

Transition to a carbon neutral society

Fuel cell and hydrogen technology is a promising zero-emission powertrain solution for heavy-duty trucks. There is no one-size-fits-all universal solution for the electrification of the heavy-duty vehicle industry.

Jef Colruyt explains:

Colruyt Group is very pleased that important suppliers such as AB Inbev want to explore the possibilities of hydrogen fuel cell trucks together with us – it strengthens our conviction that we are making the right choices

The hydrogen trucks run on electricity generated by a fuel cell on board. It uses green hydrogen as fuel. Truck performance is comparable to diesel trucks in terms of daily range, refueling time and payload. The technology will play a key role in the transition to a carbon neutral society. In addition, the truck is very quiet in pure electric mode, which is in line with the pursuit of quieter deliveries to the stores. 

Fabio Sala, head of AB InBev BeNeFraLux:

No company can build a more sustainable future on its own, so we are proud to work with Colruyt Group.

“As a brewer we rely on natural ingredients, we see it as our responsibility to invest in green logistics”

European cooperation

The hydrogen truck test is part of the European pilot project ‘Hydrogen Region 2.0’ to gain know-how and experience with large-scale hydrogen applications in logistics. By sharing the experience gained on a large scale, Hydrogen Region 2.0 wants to inspire other large logistics centers to also start using hydrogen vehicles. The project is made possible with financial support from the European Union within the framework of the Interreg Flanders-Netherlands program.

READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central

Two experienced pioneer partners join forces

AB InBev has mapped out a clear path towards greener logistics and positions itself as a first moverwith recent investments in the very first Belgian e-trucks. In December 2020, AB InBev pioneered with the very first Belgian e-truck to soon deliver emission-free to the Leuven hospitality industry. A second e-truck will follow shortly. 

The new pilot project with this hydrogen truck is yet another proof of its belief in green logistics. The various transports in Belgium have already been optimized by using eco-combis (a collaboration with Colruyt), beer boats and trains, and by locally producing Stella Artois’ overseas volumes. In 2019, AB InBev completed its first zero-emission beer delivery in the US, 18 months after placing an order for 800 hydrogen-electric trucks. These green logistics operations,

Colruyt Group has always believed in the importance of hydrogen for making mobility and energy supply more sustainable. The retail group has the ambition to invest more than 35 million euros in innovative applications with hydrogen and has been producing its own green hydrogen for almost ten years, mainly as energy support for forklift trucks and passenger cars in its fleet. 

In 2018, Colruyt Group started offering hydrogen to the wider public at the DATS 24 filling station in Halle, Europe’s first fully integrated filling station that offers hydrogen in addition to CNG, diesel, petrol, AdBlue and a fast charger for electric cars. In the coming months, four more public filling stations will be equipped with a hydrogen installation: Haasrode, Wilrijk, Erpe-Mere and Herve. In December 2020, the retailer commissioned the first 44-tonne electric hydrogen truck in Europe, developed by VDL Groep. 

In addition, Colruyt Group is actively involved in the H2HAUL project, which will deploy 16 heavy hydrogen trucks in four European countries. By 2022, Colruyt Group will employ four additional hydrogen trucks. These trucks will refuel at a special filling station built by DATS 24.

Colruyt Group and AB Inbev join forces to develop the market for hydrogen trucks in Belgium, March 31, 2021

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