Volvo Trucks plans to begin customer testing of hydrogen fuel cell trucks in 2025.

Volvo Trucks is testing fuel cell electric trucks that emit only water vapour and have a range comparable to diesel trucks of up to 1,000 kilometres. A second pilot phase will begin in a few years, including customer tests on public roads.

The commercial testing of fuel cell electric trucks will begin in 2025 with selected customers in Northern Europe, followed by other trucks in more countries over the next few years.

Hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks will be ideal for long-distance and high-energy-demanding tasks. They could also be an option in regions with restricted battery charging options.

"The pilot tests, I hope, will emphasize the possibilities for fuel cell electric trucks. The tests will take place in a difficult, harsh environment and provide us with an excellent opportunity to drive with high loads of up to 65 tonnes," explains Jessica Sandström, SvP Global Product Management at Volvo Trucks.

The pilot testing will examine all areas of the truck's performance, including working components, handling, and driver experience.

Instead of being charged from an external source, a fuel cell generates its own electricity from the hydrogen onboard. Water vapour is the only byproduct emitted. Volvo's electric trucks will use two fuel cells capable of producing 300 kW of power and will require less than 15 minutes to refuel.

Fuel cell technology is still in its early stages of development, and while there are numerous advantages, there are also hurdles, including the requirement for a large-scale supply of green hydrogen and the construction of fuelling infrastructure. To compensate for the scarcity of available hydrogen during the pilots, green hydrogen from renewable sources will be filled at the home depot.

"We anticipate major growth in the supply of green hydrogen over the next few years, as many businesses will rely on it to decrease CO2 emissions. Fuel cell trucks will be vital for longer and heavier transportation in a few years," Jessica Sandström predicts.