BMW begins field testing of an 18-tonne hydrogen combustion engine truck at Plant Leipzig
BMW Group has started real-world testing of an 18-tonne truck with a hydrogen combustion engine at its Leipzig plant, a first for German car production.
- 18 tonnes
- three-shift operation
- 2
What Happened
At BMW Group Plant Leipzig, an 18-tonne truck with a hydrogen combustion engine is now being tested in real-world plant operations. The truck uses a piston engine based on diesel technology, in which hydrogen is burned to produce water vapour and virtually no CO2. For this project, the H2 combustion-engine truck supplies the Technology Exterior Components (TEK) division with parts for the production of plastic components such as bumpers and spoilers. In a second phase, it will supply vehicle assembly with exterior components from TEK on a just-in-time basis. BMW says it is testing a further technology to reduce the CO2 emissions of its global transport activities.
18tonnes
Hydrogen combustion engine truck tested in regular operations at BMW Group Plant Leipzig
“Logistics is the backbone of our production. That is why we are adopting a technology-open, data-based approach to identify suitable alternative truck drive trains for each specific application. For the first time in German car production, we are using a truck with a hydrogen combustion engine in regular operations. This project will give us valuable practical experience in real-world logistics operations and make an important contribution to further developing this technology.”
Testing will take place both on longer transport routes and in three-shift operation in the vicinity of the plant. BMW says battery-electric and hydrogen trucks complement each other: hydrogen trucks suit demanding transport applications such as high daily mileage, multi-shift operations or specific infrastructure requirements, and short refuelling times reduce downtime. They can also be deployed in regions without adequate charging infrastructure or a high-capacity grid connection, which is particularly relevant for long-haul routes and heavily used vehicles. However, an appropriate and reliable hydrogen filling infrastructure is still required.
- Based on diesel technology, so easy to integrate into existing vehicle and maintenance structures; delivers comparable performance and robustness under high loads and dynamic driving profiles
- Significantly less sensitive to variations in hydrogen quality and can therefore guarantee higher availability
- BMW Group: heads the HyCET (Hydrogen Combustion Engine Truck) research and development project
- DEUTZ: developed the hydrogen engine
- Rudolph Logistics Group: operates the hydrogen combustion truck
- TEAL MOBILITY: installed the necessary hydrogen filling stations
- German Federal Ministry of Transport: funds the project
The Leipzig test is part of the HyCET research and development project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, which develops and tests trucks with hydrogen combustion engines under real-world conditions. Its aim is to generate reliable data for the technical, operational, environmental and economic assessment of the technology and to identify suitable applications for hydrogen trucks. HyCET also forms part of the BMW Group Strategy for Reduced Logistics Emissions, under which the company assesses alternative drive technologies on a technology-neutral basis. The decisive factor is how well a technology suits the specific transport task, with a focus on technical maturity and reliability, operating performance, CO2 emissions, economic feasibility and availability of the essential energy and refuelling infrastructure.
Why this matters
The trial tests whether hydrogen combustion trucks can complement battery-electric trucks in just-in-time logistics, where short refuelling times and multi-shift use matter. For BMW, the data feeds a strategy to cut CO2 from its global transport activities; for the wider industry it tests a hydrogen engine built on proven diesel technology.
Terms in This Story
- hydrogen combustion engine
- An engine that burns hydrogen in a piston engine rather than gasoline or diesel; BMW's version is based on diesel technology.
- hydrogen fuel cell
- A system that produces electricity from hydrogen to power an electric drivetrain.
- just-in-time
- A logistics method in which parts are delivered right before they are needed on the production line.
- HyCET
- Short for Hydrogen Combustion Engine Truck, a research and development project testing hydrogen combustion trucks under real-world conditions.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.