Daimler Truck Partners with KEYOU to Launch Hydrogen Combustion Trucks by 2027
Daimler Truck and KEYOU will collaborate to bring hydrogen internal combustion engine trucks to market by 2027, expanding zero-emission options.
- 2027
- 650 km
- 350 kW
What Happened
Daimler Truck AG and KEYOU GmbH have signed an agreement to develop hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine trucks. Daimler will supply Mercedes-Benz Actros L 1848 tractor units and engines, which KEYOU will convert to run on hydrogen. The first model, the KEYOU HICE.40, is planned for market launch in 2027. The partnership aims to provide a complementary drive solution for road freight transport, leveraging Daimler's existing vehicle platforms for rapid implementation.
“The road freight transport sector requires different drive solutions for different applications. Hydrogen can be used to power both fuel cells and internal combustion engines. By working with KEYOU, we are partnering with a specialized company to bring hydrogen combustion technology to market quickly and efficiently.”
“The partnership with Daimler Truck is an important step for us to bring our KEYOU-inside technology into industrial application. Together, we can significantly accelerate the development and scaling of hydrogen-based drive solutions in the commercial vehicle sector and thus make a tangible contribution to decarbonizing heavy-duty transport.”
650 km range, 350 kW power
Gross vehicle weight of 40 tons, using 350-bar compressed hydrogen technology.
Why this matters
Hydrogen combustion offers a robust, cost-efficient alternative to battery-electric and fuel cell trucks, potentially accelerating decarbonization of heavy-duty transport.
Terms in This Story
- hydrogen internal combustion engine
- An engine that burns hydrogen instead of gasoline or diesel, producing near-zero CO2 emissions.
- fuel cell
- A device that converts hydrogen into electricity to power an electric motor, emitting only water vapor.
- battery-electric
- A vehicle powered solely by a battery and electric motor, charged from an external source.
- decarbonization
- Reducing carbon dioxide emissions, especially from fossil fuels, to combat climate change.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.