On November 12, 2023, a startup company in China, unveiled its take on a heavy-duty hydrogen truck. Hybot, a company that specializes in hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles revealed its latest creation, the H49 heavy-duty truck. According to the Guangdong province-based company, this groundbreaking vehicle is the world's inaugural heavy-duty truck capable of covering a distance exceeding 1,000 km using only the power of hydrogen.
Hybot highlighted that the H49, characterized by its futuristic design, incorporates groundbreaking innovations in energy efficiency, mileage, and durability. Weighing at only eight tons, Hybot claims the H49 is capable of hauling a 49-ton payload. According to the company, it consumes only eight kg of hydrogen for every 100 km of road transportation with a full load.
According to Sun Ying, Hybot's CEO, the upcoming model from the company's next generation is expected to reduce its hydrogen consumption to less than 7.5 kg per 100 km. Hybot has implemented a forward-looking architecture that facilitates features like over-the-air updates, long-distance diagnosis, and autonomous driving capabilities.
Sun stated that the H49 will be gradually introduced in limited quantities starting in the second half of 2024, with full-scale mass production and deliveries scheduled to commence in 2025. Over in Europe, Volvo is also working on a hydrogen-fueled truck in collaboration with Daimler Trucks, unlike Hybot which is set to introduce the H49 in 2025 though, Volvo’s offering is still in the testing phase. However, though Volvo’s hydrogen-powered trucks are still out of reach, their battery-electric trucks like the FH Electric are already available in numerous countries.
In Japan, Isuzu’s challenger comes in the form of the Giga Fuel Cell, built in collaboration with Honda. Isuzu and Honda aim to have this truck ready by 2027 with further refinements still in progress. We can expect more of these trucks in the next few years as truckmakers continue to develop their fuel cell technology and adapt them to real-world conditions.
