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Daimler Truck Unveils New GenH2 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model
Limited NextGenH2 Production Run Will Deliver 100 Trucks to Fleets by Late 2026
Key Takeaways:
- Daimler Truck unveiled its second-generation Mercedes-Benz GenH2 hydrogen fuel cell tractor and plans to build 100 NextGenH2 units in Germany by the end of 2026.
- The company delayed serial production to the early 2030s due to slower hydrogen refueling infrastructure rollout and increased the new trucks' liquid hydrogen capacity to 85 kilograms.
- Daimler Truck will continue customer testing with several carriers as it readies the limited-production trucks and advances toward future large-scale fuel cell manufacturing.
Daimler Truck drew the curtain back on a second generation of its Mercedes-Benz GenH2 hydrogen fuel cell tractor Jan. 26, with small-scale production of the first 100 NextGenH2 vehicles set to take place by the end of 2026.
Once built at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth, Germany, the 100 trucks will be deployed with customers, the world’s largest truck maker said.
“In addition to battery-electric solutions, hydrogen-based drives are crucial for the sustainable transformation of our industry. With the NextGenH2 Truck, we are taking the next technological step in fuel cell trucks,” Mercedes-Benz Trucks CEO Achim Puchert said.
“Together with our customers, we aim to introduce a small series with high range and near-production-ready technology into daily transport operations from the end of 2026,” he added.
Series production of the fuel cell trucks is still targeted for the early 2030s, Daimler Truck said.
Until midway through 2025, Daimler Truck 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. Daimler Truck said slower-than-expected deployment of hydrogen refueling infrastructure led to the delayed rollout.
GenH2s are based on a conventional Mercedes-Benz Actros cabover longhaul truck. Initial testing began in 2024. Among the carriers that took part in the first testing were Amazon, Air Products, Ineos, Holcim and Wiedmann & Winz.
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Initial testing began in 2024. (Daimler Truck)
A second phase of testing for the prototype began with another group of carriers at the start of 2026, the parent company of Freightliner and Western Star said. Five semis are being deployed with Hornbach; Reber Logistik; Teva Germany, through its Ratiopharm brand; Rhenus; and DHL Supply Chain.
The first 100 limited-production tractors will retain Cellcentric fuel cells and liquid hydrogen technology developed by Daimler Truck.
Additions will include series components from the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 such as the integrated e-axle and aerodynamically optimized ProCabin.
The capacity of the two liquid hydrogen tanks was increased compared with first-generation models, so that up to 85 kilograms of hydrogen can now be filled, up from 80 kg previously, Daimler Truck said. Refueling is possible from both sides as the tanks are connected. The refueling standard developed by Daimler Truck and its partner Linde, known as sLH2, allows the truck to be fueled within 10-15 minutes.
In addition, 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).
The trucks use Cellcentric’s BZA150 fuel cell. Daimler Truck and Volvo Group joint venture Cellcentric began pilot production of hydrogen fuel cells in June 2024 at its Esslingen plant in Germany.
