GLOBAL REPORT
Volvo has announced plans to begin on-road testing of trucks equipped with hydrogen powered internal combustion engines starting in 2026 with the commercial launch planned towards the end of this decade. Trucks that run on green hydrogen provide a significant step for Volvo to achieve its net zero goal and support customers to reach their decarbonization targets.
Trucks that run on green hydrogen instead of fossil fuels provide one way to decarbonize transport. Hydrogen trucks will be especially suitable over longer distances and in regions where there is limited charging infrastructure, or time for, recharging of batteries.
The hydrogen-powered combustion engine trucks will complement Volvo’s offering of other alternatives, such as battery electric trucks, fuel cell electric trucks and trucks that run on renewable fuels, like biogas and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).
Other OEMs who will begin testing hydrogen combustion engines in the 2026/2027 timeframe include Iveco, MAN, Freightliner (Cummins) and PACCAR (Cummins).
Source: Volvo Read The Article
PSR Analysis. There has been significant talk during the past few years about the viability of using hydrogen as a fuel for the internal combustion engine. While trucks powered by hydrogen ICEs would be ideal for longer haul routes, there are significant barriers to adoption including fueling infrastructure, availability of “green” hydrogen and the cost per liter/gallon compared with diesel and other alternative fuels. The hydrogen ICE engine would also be competing with hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the next decade.
With the transition to zero-emission based vehicles, the cost of the engine would likely increase significantly due to the declining scale of ICE components which would drive up costs and potentially disrupt the supply chain for the engine components. Installing an internal combustion hydrogen engine may no longer be financially feasible.
In the United States, the EPA and state agencies such as CARB would like to eliminate the internal combustion engine and completely transition to zero-emission vehicles such as battery electric and hydrogen fuel cells. PSR
Chris Fisher is Senior Commercial Vehicle Analyst at Power Systems Research
