Defining the new fuel cell standard in heavy-duty applications: cellcentric unveils BZA375
cellcentric, the home of advanced heavy-duty fuel cell systems, officially launches its innovative, next-generation product under its official product name: BZA375. Previously known under the project name “NextGen” and unveiled at a dedicated cellcentric event at Hannover Messe (April 20-24, 2026), BZA375 is now ready to make its mark as a product that is available for testing, validation and further industrial scale-up across a broad range of heavy-duty applications. As a Tier 1 supplier with full focus on heavy-duty trucks and similarly demanding applications, cellcentric addresses one of the key challenges in decarbonizing transport with BZA375: making zero-emission drive technology genuinely competitive, durable and broadly applicable for the world’s most demanding applications.
Kirchheim/Teck – BZA375 illustrates how fuel cell systems can be optimized for the demands of heavy-duty trucks and further applications with comparable requirements. In less than three years, BZA375 was developed through a combination of innovative solutions, continuous improvement and a solid understanding of customer requirements. Developed to OEM performance and quality requirements, BZA375 is engineered to compete with modern diesel engines in demanding applications.
At the heart of the BZA375 development is a clear focus on optimizing total cost of ownership (TCO) – the decisive factor influencing customers’ purchasing decisions in heavy-duty markets. BZA375 pushes the boundaries of fuel-cell technology and is optimized for this purpose.
Nicholas Loughlan, CTO of cellcentric, says:
BZA375 is custom tailored for the needs of heavy-duty, long-haul trucks and an excellent fit in other applications with comparable requirements.
”At cellcentric, we are deliberately set up as an independent Tier 1 supplier and open to partnering with any OEMs that are driving the decarbonization of their portfolios,”
Karin Rådström, President and CEO of Daimler Truck AG, says:
Two key technologies will lead the way on our path to decarbonize transport: battery-electric and hydrogen.
” We’ve already taken important steps, and cellentric’s new fuel cell system is the next major milestone. Building on the success of its predecessor, it represents a new level of efficiency and performance,”
Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of Volvo Group, says:
With the launch of the BZA375, cellcentric and its partners have created the blueprint for zero-emission long-haul transportation in the heavy-duty segment.
”This is a game changer for logistics providers and society at large, and it takes us yet another step towards the decarbonization of the industry,”
BZA375 key performance figures at a glance:
- Up to 375 kW continuous net power – more than 500 horsepower – out of a single-system package
- 20% less fuel consumption vs. the previous cellcentric fuel cell system BZA150, enabling a fully loaded 40-ton truck to operate on less than 6 kg of hydrogen per 100 kilometers under real-world driving conditions
- 40% reduction of waste heat at 300 kW net power vs. BZA150, enabling significantly more compact and cost-effective cooling systems
- 40% higher power density vs. BZA150 – further facilitating integration into existing vehicle architectures, designed to fit into engine compartments originally developed for conventional 13-liter diesel engines
- 40% reduction in complexity vs. BZA150, thanks to a significant reduction in components and interfaces
- Less than 500 kg weight, allowing payload levels to be maintained at levels customers expect from proven diesel technology
BZA375’s single-system design enables the transition away from the “twin-system” approach so far applied for BZA150 in the heavy-duty truck target application. This design reduces complexity, enables easy incorporation into existing vehicle platforms designed for diesel powertrains, and allows for a more compact, cost-effective integration for cellcentric’s OEM customers.
All these advancements were achieved while maintaining the high durability level that already characterized BZA150: a service life of 25,000 hours – equivalent to a 10-year service life in a heavy-duty truck, comparable to modern diesel engines.
Prototype production of BZA375 has already begun. First prototypes have been undergoing rigorous performance and durability testing for months and are now available to cellcentric’s customers for their own testing and validation activities. Prior to series production, larger volumes of mature prototype systems will already be available to customers for testing, validation and initial fleet applications. Series production is being prepared for the turn of the decade.
One product, various heavy-duty applications: BZA375 goes beyond the truck
With the launch of BZA375, cellcentric presents its fuel cell system not only as a solution for heavy-duty long-haul trucks. While primarily designed and optimized for heavy-duty long-haul trucks, the system is also suited for a broad range of further demanding use cases with comparable requirements: coaches, stationary power generation, rail and mining.
BZA375’s competitive specifications allow cellcentric to further pursue a one-product strategy by enabling the use of a single system across this wide range of applications, creating significant economies of scale and a sizable potential for further cost reduction in fuel-cell technology.
With BZA375, cellcentric, as a Tier 1 supplier, moves from promise to advanced product reality. It is a single, powerful system built on proven cellcentric fuel cell expertise that is ready for integration into validation and industrialization programs – not just in long-haul trucks it was designed for, but wherever heavy-duty work demands zero-emission performance at scale.
From the highway to the mine, from the rail track to the power grid: BZA375 starts now.
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Defining the new fuel cell standard in heavy-duty applications: cellcentric unveils BZA375, source
