Battery vs. Fuel Cell: Daimler Truck Emphasizes Dual Strategy

The commercial vehicle manufacturer Daimler Truck has responded to discussions about a study by Fraunhofer ISI, which also favors battery-electric propulsion for trucks. The VW subsidiary Traton Group, which generally focuses on battery-electric drives, felt vindicated by the analysis in its focus. As expected, the Swabians countered - and stuck to their dual strategy. They have clearly set the strategic course and are pursuing a dual strategy for electrifying their portfolio: with battery and hydrogen-based drives. The manufacturer argues with the many different use cases for trucks. For flexible and demanding applications, especially in the important segment of heavy long-distance transport, hydrogen-based drives could be the better solution, they believe in Stuttgart.

"This also applies to electrified trucks: transport companies make rational purchasing decisions based on total cost of ownership and do not want to compromise on everyday usability, tonnage, and range," say Daimler experts. 

From the perspective of Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG, Head of Truck Technology, there will always be discussions that deal only with individual aspects of different alternative drive forms, such as energy efficiency. Indeed, this is higher for battery-electric compared to hydrogen-based drives. However, this perspective overlooks the "big picture," Gorbach continues to argue.

"The key to a successful transition to zero-emission technologies is, in addition to efficiency, primarily the availability of the corresponding infrastructure and sufficient green energy. We are convinced that a rapid and cost-optimized coverage of this energy demand is only possible with both technologies," explains Gorbach.

Hardly any country will be able to self-supply with green energy at competitive prices in the future. Consequently, there will have to be global trade in a CO2-neutral energy carrier. Green hydrogen will play a central role in this, according to Gorbach.

"We assume that it will be traded at very attractive prices in the long term. Additionally, we see advantages in the cost and technical feasibility of the hydrogen infrastructure, as well as greater ranges for customers, flexibility, and shorter refueling times. Thus, hydrogen trucks can be a sensible option for our customers, especially in tough long-distance use, particularly concerning total cost of ownership – even if energy efficiency is lower," Gorbach believes.

When it comes to the best transport solution, energy efficiency is thus an important but far from sufficient criterion to consider. The company plans to offer only new vehicles in its global core markets that are CO2-neutral in operation by 2039.

Argument: Worldwide commitments from governments to H2

More than 40 governments worldwide have launched extensive hydrogen action plans, based on the realization that hydrogen enables a stable, fully renewable power supply as a long-term storable energy carrier. There are also numerous areas of application that can only be decarbonized with hydrogen, the manufacturer continues to argue, seeing this as a "clear signal for a hydrogen-based energy system of the future."

"Experts expect that hundreds of billions of euros will be invested in hydrogen production, transport, and infrastructure within this decade," outlines the manufacturer.

Cooperations for comprehensive H2 engagement already underway

Daimler Truck has been developing the next generation of liquid hydrogen refueling technology for fuel cell trucks with Linde for some time. In the area of hydrogen refueling infrastructure along key transport routes in Europe, it plans to collaborate with companies such as Shell, BP, and TotalEnergies. Additionally, Daimler Truck, IVECO, Linde, OMV, Shell, TotalEnergies, and the Volvo Group aim to jointly promote hydrogen trucks across Europe under their H2Accelerate (H2A) initiative.

Fuel cell joint venture cellcentric with Volvo Group

Together with the Volvo Group, the Swabians are focusing on developing a hydrogen-based fuel cell. Both companies founded the joint venture cellcentric in 2021. The goal is to become one of the world's leading manufacturers of fuel cell systems. To this end, the company plans to establish one of the largest series productions in Europe from 2025.

Daimler Truck relies on a dual strategy

Since 2018 and 2021, respectively, the battery-electric vehicles Mercedes-Benz eCitaro and Mercedes-Benz eActros have been rolling off the production line in series production, the provider points out. The eEconic, the FUSO eCanter, and the Freightliner eCascadia are expected to follow later this year, with more vehicles in the pipeline. On the hydrogen side, the fuel cell prototype Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck has been undergoing intensive testing since last year, both on the company's own test track and on public roads, they outline. The development goal is a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and more for the production vehicle, with production set to start in 2027.