Logistics provider Dachser will begin using its first truck tractors with liquid hydrogen technology at the end of December. (Daimler trucks))
key takeaways:
- Dachser will deploy five Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 hydrogen fuel cell trucks starting in December, with the full rollout continuing through mid-2027.
- Using liquid hydrogen technology the trucks offer a range of more than 1,000 kilometers and a refueling time of about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Due to the development of hydrogen infrastructure being slower than expected, Daimler Trucks is now targeting a 2030 start for series production.
German logistics group Dachser will be the first customer to put a production model of the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 hydrogen fuel cell electric tractor on the road in December, Daimler Truck said.
NextGenH2 will be key to the third phase of the engine technology strategy of the world’s largest truck maker. The parent company of Freightliner and Western Star relies on battery-electric and diesel engines as well as FCEV hydrogen technology.
Dachser plans to deploy three cabover tractors at its Karlsruhe logistics center in Germany, while two other trucks will enter service by mid-2027. Dachser said on June 9 that each truck is scheduled to be deployed for long-haul freight transportation.
Kempten, Germany-based Deutscher Group is ranked 35th on Transport Topics Top 50 list of the largest global freight companies. Dachser currently operates more than 190 battery-electric trucks, including several Mercedes eActros 600s on which NextGenH2 is based.
“Fuel cell trucks with liquid hydrogen can complement Datcher’s e-truck fleet in the future – especially when very long distances or short refueling times are required,” said stephan hohmDachsar Chief Development Officer.
“Once hydrogen technology becomes mature and affordable, it can meet logistics requirements that are currently difficult to handle with battery-electric trucks. That’s why we are also involved in research and development in the field of hydrogen mobility,” Hohm said.
NextGenH2 has a range of over 1,000 kilometers or 620 miles when both liquid hydrogen tanks are refueled. The refueling technology developed by Daimler Trucks and its partner Linde, known as SLH2, allows the truck to be fully refueled within 10-15 minutes.
Linde (North America) is ranked 29th on Transportation Topic’s Top 100 list of the largest private carriers in North America.
Dachser’s Karlsruhe logistics center is located about 30 kilometers from Mercedes-Benz’s major manufacturing plant in Worth, which will be home to the liquid hydrogen refueling infrastructure needed for the trucks.
A total of 100 NextGenH2 trucks will be built at the Worth plant by the end of 2026 as part of the first small series production for the model.
Daimler Trucks took the wraps off the NextGenH2 in January as the second generation of its GenH2 hydrogen fuel cell tractor.
DACHSER has become the first company to deploy @DaimlerTruck‘S @MercedesBenz NextGenH2 Truck. three liquids #hydrogen-Powerful trucks will enter service from late 2026 #Zero-Emission long distance logistics.#HydrogenNow #logistics #CleanTransportationhttps://t.co/0x2fFXPXL9 pic.twitter.com/YpnYjX9aRg
– Fuel Cell Works (@fuelcellworks) 9 June 2026
Daimler Trucks said series production of fuel cell trucks is targeted for the early 2030s. By mid-2025, the company expected to begin mass production by the end of 2020.
The delayed start of mass production was first revealed during the truck maker’s Capital Markets Day in July 2025. Daimler Trucks said the rollout was delayed due to slower than expected deployment of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
The first 100 limited-production tractors will retain the Cellcentric BZA150 fuel cell and sLH2 technology developed by Daimler Trucks. The company expects sLH2 to become the standard for liquid hydrogen refueling.
Additions include series components from the eActros 600s, such as the integrated e-axle and the aerodynamically optimized ProCabin.
Additionally, the reduction in size of the tech tower behind the cab means that the wheelbase has been shortened by 150 millimeters compared to the previous iteration, at 4,000 mm (about 157.5 inches).
CellCentric is a joint venture with Daimler Trucks. Volvo Group and Toyota. On April 19, CellCentric launched an updated fuel cell, the BZA375, which previously had the project name “NextGen”.
“Two key technologies will lead our path to decarbonizing transportation: battery-electric and hydrogen. We have already taken important steps, and CellCentric’s new fuel cell system is the next major milestone,” said Carin Rodström, CEO of Daimler Trucks, at the launch of the fuel cell. “Building on the success of its predecessor, it represents a new level of efficiency and performance.”
According to CellCentric, the fuel cell is designed to fit into engine compartments originally developed for conventional 13-litre diesel engines. Production of the series is scheduled for the end of the decade. It has 20% lower hydrogen consumption than the BZA150 as well as 40% higher power density.
