Hydrogen fuel‑cell vehicle trials in Europe

In late July 2026 Bosch began a real‑world test of its hydrogen fuel‑cell system on an Irizar bus operated by Alsa in Madrid. The bus, powered by a 190 kW Fuel Cell Power Module, carries enough hydrogen for more than 1,000 km of travel and can be refuelled in 10–15 minutes. The trial, run on routes with limited charging infrastructure, is intended to assess reliability and suitability for long‑distance urban and intercity service and aligns with EU rules that require a 90 % cut in bus CO₂ emissions by 2030.

A few days later, in early August 2026, MAN Truck & Bus delivered three hydrogen fuel‑cell trucks to LoadFox Transport Solutions in Bavaria, funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. The trucks use Bosch fuel‑cell modules, ZF electric axles and 700‑bar hydrogen tanks, offering a 450–500 km range and a gross vehicle weight of up to 42 t. They will operate for three months on regular logistics routes between Munich, Dachau, Nuremberg and other southern‑German locations. The deployment underscores hydrogen’s potential to complement electricity in hard‑to‑electrify sectors and highlights the need for expanded production, transport and storage infrastructure.

Together, the bus and truck trials illustrate a coordinated European effort to introduce hydrogen fuel‑cell technology across different transport modes as part of broader climate‑change mitigation strategies.