Daimler Truck nets funding for fuel cell trucks

The €226 million funding will be used for development, small series production and customer deployment (operation and maintenance) of 100 fuel cell trucks. (Photo: Daimler Truck)

The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, have approved funding totaling €226 million for Daimler Truck to utilize in the development, small series production and customer deployment (operation and maintenance) of 100 fuel cell trucks. The funding is part of the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Hydrogen program of the European Union.

Daimler Truck had filed an application for funding in 2021 for the development of fuel cell trucks and small series customer deployment in long-distance transportation. It will now receive around two-thirds of the total eligible amount put forward in the IPCEI-funding application. The company will continue to carry a significant part of the total investment in fuel cell truck development on its own.

Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport and Federal Minister of Justice (far left) hands over the notice of funding to Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck. At right: Daniela Schmitt, State Minister for Economics, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, and Dr. Andre Baumann, State Secretary at the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Sector of the State of Baden-Württemberg. (Photo: Daimler Truck)

The funding project covers both vehicle and production-related activities. In addition to the development and build-up of the vehicles, the funding will be used for feasibility studies with regard to the hydrogen value chain as well as investments in required production facilities and processes in preparation for planned series production.

Key components are set to be assembled at various German production sites and made available for final assembly. Kassel (electric drive axle) and Mannheim (“Tech Tower”) are two of the involved plants. The fuel cells are scheduled to come from cellcentric’s pilot production in Esslingen and will be assembled into a twin system at the Gaggenau plant.

Final assembly of the next-generation fuel cell trucks will take place at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth and the trucks are expected to go into operation at various customers from the end of 2026 onwards.

“The approval of funding for the development and small series production of 100 fuel cell trucks is an important boost for the use of hydrogen in road freight transportation,” said Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck. “This funding is therefore a strong signal not only for Daimler Truck but for the entire commercial vehicle industry.”

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