Truck makers turn to hydrogen combustion engines for quick low-emission transition.
As the global trucking industry grapples with the need to reduce emissions, major manufacturers like Volvo and MAN are exploring hydrogen combustion engines as an immediate, cost-effective solution. This approach offers a new lease on life for the traditional combustion engine amidst the energy transition challenges faced by the industry. Electric batteries, while promising, pose challenges for long-haul freight due to their weight and lengthy charging times. On the other hand, hydrogen fuel cells can extend range and reduce weight, but the transition requires significant investment in new truck systems.
To address these challenges, manufacturers and suppliers are focusing on hydrogen combustion engines, which can be developed more quickly and cost-effectively by utilising existing manufacturing lines. This shift comes as countries like Germany, where engine-making has long been an economic pillar, confront concerns over job security as the industry moves towards electric solutions.
Reiner Roessner, Vice President for Sales at MAN Truck & Bus SE, notes that the industry is eagerly working on hydrogen combustion technology, despite the current limited availability of green hydrogen produced from renewable sources:
Once hydrogen becomes more available, the demand for hydrogen combustion engines will rise.
MAN plans to launch a pilot project, delivering approximately 200 trucks with hydrogen-powered engines to European customers next year for fleet testing. This initiative marks a critical step toward mass production, reflecting the industry’s commitment to hydrogen technology.
Meanwhile, Volvo AB, a leading Swedish truck maker, continues to invest in both hydrogen fuel cells and combustion engines. Volvo plans to begin customer trials of hydrogen combustion engine models in 2026, alongside its goal of offering hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the latter half of the decade. Chief Technology Officer Lars Stenqvist emphasises that while hydrogen combustion engines will not dominate sales, they will represent a significant volume.
Overcoming Technical Challenges
Despite its maturity, hydrogen combustion technology faces several challenges. Unlike fuel cells, burning hydrogen in an engine can produce harmful emissions that require filtration, as noted by Michael Krueger, Senior Vice President for Engineering at Bosch. Additionally, current systems like Westport Fuel Systems’ use a small percentage of diesel to ignite hydrogen, though efforts are underway to eliminate diesel and transition to a carbon-free fuel.
Hydrogen trucks also require larger pressurised tanks compared to diesel, prompting companies like Munich-based startup Keyou to innovate with different tank shapes to optimise space and safety. Given hydrogen’s highly flammable nature, ensuring tank safety under all conditions remains paramount.
Infrastructure and Supply Chain Hurdles
A significant hurdle for both hydrogen combustion engines and fuel cells is the limited availability of green hydrogen. Despite funding from the European Union and the United States for green hydrogen projects, and initiatives by companies like Daimler and BP, the rollout has been slow, and building sufficient fueling infrastructure will take years.
However, major suppliers such as Bosch and Cummins express confidence in the hydrogen combustion engine’s potential, given existing factories and supply chains dedicated to the technology.
Bosch’s Krueger:
“We aim to be swift. This is where hydrogen combustion plays a crucial role,”
The Future of Hydrogen Combustion Engines
Beyond major players like Volvo and MAN, other manufacturers, including Italy’s Iveco Group and DAF, are also exploring hydrogen combustion options. Daimler recently unveiled two prototype hydrogen combustion vehicles, showcasing the industry’s commitment to this technology.
Cummins, a U.S.-based company, plans to provide test models to customers across different regions within the next year or two, aiming for a market-ready product within five years. Jonathan Wood, Chief Technical Officer at Cummins, highlighted that hydrogen combustion engines could serve as a transitional technology, reducing emissions while awaiting widespread green hydrogen availability.
By retrofitting natural gas models for hydrogen, Cummins offers fleet customers a familiar technology that enables a gradual transition down the carbon emissions curve.
Westport’s Anders Johansson, Vice President for Heavy-Duty Vehicles, said:
Hydrogen combustion is a game changer without altering the game.
As the industry navigates the path to zero emissions, hydrogen combustion engines represent a pragmatic solution for manufacturers and fleet operators alike.
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Truck makers turn to hydrogen combustion engines for quick low-emission transition. source
