BMW-led hydrogen trucks research project gets funding

A research project led by the BMW (ETR:BMW) to develop and test hydrogen trucks with combustion engines in real-life transport logistics has secured EUR 11.3 million (USD 11m) of funding from the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV).

The German automotive group said on Wednesday that BMDV has approved the funding application for the project, called HyCET (Hydrogen Combustion Engine Trucks).

The project consortium also includes engine manufacturer DEUTZ AG (ETR:DEZ), DHL Freight GmbH, hydrogen expert KEYOU GmbH, TotalEnergies Marketing Deutschland GmbH and Volvo Group.

The four-year project, representing a total investment of EUR 19.5 million, will develop two 18-tonne trucks and two 40-tonne trucks with hydrogen combustion engines. These will be trialed in regular BMW Group and DEUTZ transport logistics. With an additional EUR 5.7 million, BMDV is also supporting the construction of two public hydrogen filling stations in Leipzig and Nuremberg that will enable daily operation of the trucks. The filling stations will become part of TotalEnergies’ (EPA:TTE) network as the energy group aims to operate up to 150 hydrogen filling stations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France by 2030.

“Hydrogen is a good energy-storage solution for climate-friendly transportation that can supplement battery-electric mobility,” remarked Daniela Kluckert, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport. Kluckert added that the HyCET project will provide assessment of real-life use of hydrogen combustion engine technology for the transport of heavy goods, which will contribute to competition between alternative drive train technologies in logistics.

(EUR 1 = USD 0.971)

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