Daimler, KEYOU Plan Hydrogen Combustion-Powered Truck Launch in 2027

Global truck manufacturer Daimler Truck and Munich-based hydrogen engine technology company KEYOU announced today a new partnership to accelerate the commercialization of hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) trucks, with plans to launch the first vehicle under the new collaboration as soon as 2027.

The partnership adds to Daimler’s dual strategy to decarbonize its vehicle portfolio, which focuses on both battery-electric and hydrogen-powered technologies. Battery-electric trucks are suitable for a wide range of applications, including long-haul transport, while hydrogen technologies offer advantages for flexible, high-utilization operations, the company said.

According to Daimler Truck, liquid hydrogen fuel cell trucks can achieve ranges of more than 1,000 kilometers with short refueling times, while hydrogen combustion engines provide a cost-efficient option for payload-intensive applications using existing vehicle platforms.

Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck responsible for Truck Technology, said:

“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.”

Under the new collaboration, Daimler Truck plans to sell Mercedes-Benz Actros L 1848 tractor units and engines based on the existing 12.8-litre engine platform to KEYOU, which in turn will be responsible for adapting these to hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines. The technical conversion of the trucks and integration of the KEYOU-inside engines will then take place in cooperation with qualified external conversion partners.

The resulting truck, the KEYOU HICE.40, will be designed for a gross vehicle weight of 40 tonnes and is expected to achieve a range of up to 650 kilometers. According to the companies, the vehicle will deliver up to 350 kW of power and is intended to provide a solution for demanding freight transport applications. The technology is also expected to be adaptable to additional vehicle models over time.

The companies said that hydrogen combustion engine trucks could begin entering the market at scale from the end of 2027, with KEYOU offering the vehicles to customers, potentially alongside the development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

Thomas Korn, CEO and Co-founder of KEYOU GmbH said:

“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.”

The companies said that in addition to vehicle development, long-term customer support is also a key focus of the collaboration for KEYOU. The companies plan to explore how existing service and maintenance structures can be utilized to provide fleet operators with a high level of operational reliability and availability.