Daimler Truck teams with KEYOU on hydrogen-powered freight trucks

Daimler Truck has signed an agreement with German specialist KEYOU to develop hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE) trucks based on the Mercedes‑Benz Actros L 1848 platform. Under the partnership, Daimler will supply Actros engines and chassis, while KEYOU will convert them to run on compressed hydrogen, targeting a 40‑ton gross vehicle weight and a range of up to 650 kilometres. The collaboration is intended to provide a near‑term, economically viable decarbonisation option that complements Daimler’s battery‑electric and fuel‑cell programmes, with market launch planned for 2027.

Andreas Gorbach, board member for Truck Technology at Daimler Truck, said the road‑freight sector needs multiple drive solutions and that hydrogen can power both fuel cells and internal‑combustion engines. KEYOU CEO Thomas Korn added that the partnership will accelerate the scaling of hydrogen‑based solutions in heavy‑duty transport and contribute to decarbonising the sector.