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NextGenH2 Fuel Cell Trucks Set for First Customer Launch
German Firm Dachser Plans Initial Rollout of Mercedes-Benz Vehicles in December, Daimler Truck Says
Key Takeaways:
- Dachser will deploy five Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 hydrogen fuel cell trucks starting in December, with full rollout continuing through mid-2027.
- The trucks offer more than 1,000 kilometers of range and refueling times of about 10 to 15 minutes using liquid hydrogen technology.
- Daimler Truck now targets early 2030s for series production due to slower-than-expected hydrogen infrastructure development.
German logistics group Dachser will be the first customer to put production models of the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 hydrogen fuel cell electric tractor on the road in December, Daimler Truck said.
The NextGenH2 will be the key to the third leg of the engine technology strategy at the world’s largest truck maker. The parent company of Freightliner and Western Star is banking on FCEV hydrogen technology alongside battery-electric and diesel engines.
Dachser plans to deploy three of the cabover tractors at its Karlsruhe logistics center in Germany, with another two trucks to enter service by mid-2027. Each truck is set to be deployed for long-distance transportation of freight, Dachser said June 9.
Kempten, Germany-based Dachser Group ranks No. 35 on the Transport Topics Top 50 list of the largest global freight companies. Dachser currently operates more than 190 battery-electric trucks, including a number of Mercedes eActros 600s, which the NextGenH2 is based upon.
“Fuel cell trucks with liquid hydrogen could supplement Dachser’s e-truck fleet in the future — especially when very long ranges or short refueling times are called for,” said Stefan Hohm, Dachser chief development officer.
“Once hydrogen technology is mature and economical, it could meet logistical requirements that are currently difficult to handle with battery-electric trucks. That’s why we’re also involved in research and development in the field of hydrogen mobility,” Hohm added.
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Hohm
The NextGenH2 has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers or more than 620 miles when both liquid hydrogen tanks are fueled up. A refueling technology developed by Daimler Truck and its partner Linde, known as sLH2, allows the truck to be fully fueled up within 10-15 minutes.
Linde (North America) ranks No. 29 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest private carriers in North America.
Dachser’s Karlsruhe logistics center is located about 30 kilometers from Mercedes-Benz’s flagship manufacturing plant in Wörth, which will be home to the liquid hydrogen refueling infrastructure the trucks require.
A total of 100 NextGenH2 trucks will be built at the Wörth plant by the end of 2026 as part of the first small series production run for the model.
Daimler Truck drew the curtain back on the NextGenH2 in January as a second generation of its GenH2 hydrogen fuel cell tractor.
DACHSER becomes the first company to deploy @DaimlerTruck’s @MercedesBenz NextGenH2 Truck. Three liquid #hydrogen-powered trucks will enter service from late 2026, advancing #zero-emission long-haul logistics.#HydrogenNow #Logistics #CleanTransporthttps://t.co/0x2fFXPXL9 pic.twitter.com/YpnYjX9aRg — Fuel Cells Works (@fuelcellsworks) June 9, 2026
Series production of the fuel cell trucks is targeted for the early 2030s, Daimler Truck said. Until midway through 2025, the company expected to begin serial production toward the end of the 2020s.
The delayed start to serial production was first disclosed during the truck maker’s Capital Markets Day in July 2025. Daimler Truck said slower-than-expected deployment of hydrogen refueling infrastructure led to the delayed rollout.
The first 100 limited-production tractors will retain Cellcentric BZA150 fuel cells and the sLH2 technology developed by Daimler Truck. The company hopes sLH2 will become the standard for liquid hydrogen refueling.
Additions include series components from eActros 600s, such as the integrated e-axle and aerodynamically optimized ProCabin.
Also, a decrease in the size of the tech tower behind the cab means the wheelbase has been shortened by 150 millimeters compared with the previous iteration to 4,000 mm (about 157.5 inches).
Cellcentric is a joint venture among Daimler Truck. Volvo Group and Toyota. On April 19, Cellcentric launched an updated fuel cell, the BZA375, which previously had the project name “NextGen.”
“Two key technologies will lead the way on our path to decarbonize transport: battery-electric and hydrogen. We’ve already taken important steps, and Cellcentric’s new fuel cell system is the next major milestone, Daimler Truck CEO Karin Rådström said at the launch of the fuel cell. “Building on the success of its predecessor, it represents a new level of efficiency and performance.”
The fuel cell is designed to fit into engine compartments originally developed for conventional 13-liter diesel engines, according to Cellcentric. Series production is scheduled for the turn of the decade. It has 20% lower hydrogen consumption than the BZA150 as well as 40% higher power density.
