Tata Daewoo Mobility unveils hydrogen engine truck prototype

Tata Daewoo Mobility, in collaboration with Kolon Spaceworks, has unveiled a prototype of its MAXEN hydrogen engine tractor at the World Hydrogen Expo 2026 in Goyang, South Korea. Unlike hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, this model utilizes a hydrogen engine that directly combusts hydrogen to generate power, leveraging existing diesel internal combustion engine technology to reduce transition costs and maintenance infrastructure burdens.

The prototype features an 11-liter HX12 engine producing 408 horsepower and 170 kgf·m of torque, paired with a ZF 12-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle is equipped with a high-pressure compressed hydrogen storage system (CHSS) developed with Kolon Spaceworks, utilizing 700 bar tanks. The displayed 6x2 tractor includes six 177-liter tanks for a total capacity of 1,062 liters, while a 6x4 chassis design can accommodate seven tanks for up to 1,239 liters.

According to company test results, the hydrogen engine reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 99.9% compared to Euro 6 diesel engines. Other reductions include 98.2% for carbon monoxide, 92% for particle number, and 86% for nitrogen oxides. Tata Daewoo Mobility plans to verify durability and performance before aiming for mass production in the third quarter of 2027, with future plans to expand the technology to large cargo trucks and specialized vehicles.