After years of development and extensive real-world testing, Daimler Truck has officially unveiled the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 Truck, marking the next evolutionary step in its hydrogen fuel-cell heavy-duty vehicle program.
The newly refined model builds on the company’s first-generation GenH2 prototype while integrating several series-production components from its battery-electric sibling, the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600. These include the integrated e-axle, the aerodynamically optimized ProCabin, the Multimedia Cockpit Interactive 2, and a suite of advanced driver-assistance systems.
Despite the technological progress, Daimler Truck has made clear that large-scale production of hydrogen trucks remains some years away. As part of a recently announced small-series plan, the company intends to build 100 semi-trailer tractors of the NextGenH2 model in the coming months. However, full series production is now expected no earlier than 2030, a delay from the original 2027 target.
The postponement follows Daimler Truck’s cost-cutting program announced in mid-2025, which deprioritized the GenH2 project. According to the manufacturer, the slow expansion of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure has made widespread commercial deployment unrealistic in the near term. “Customers will not be able to deploy hydrogen trucks in large numbers in the next few years,” Daimler Truck said, citing limited infrastructure as the primary challenge.
As a result, the company also anticipates lower production volumes and has narrowed its hydrogen powertrain development focus to Europe only. While Daimler Truck continues to pursue a dual strategy of battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles in Europe, this approach may not extend to other global markets.
Daimler Truck first announced its hydrogen truck ambitions in 2020. Customer trials began in mid-2024 with partners including Air Products, Amazon, Holcim, Ineos, and Wiedmann & Winz. Five vehicles covered approximately 225,000 kilometres during these early tests. A second testing phase launched in late 2025 with additional partners such as DHL Supply Chain, Hornbach, Rhenus, Reber Logistik, and Teva, though these trials still used first-generation prototypes.
Behind the scenes, engineers were already developing the second-generation model now revealed as the NextGenH2 Truck. At its core is the Cellcentric BZA150 fuel-cell system, developed through Daimler Truck’s joint venture with the Volvo Group. The twin-stack system delivers a combined output of 300 kW and is mounted beneath the cab. Hydrogen storage capacity has been increased to 85 kilograms of liquid hydrogen, up from 80 kg in the previous generation.
Daimler Truck continues to bet on liquid hydrogen (sLH2) rather than gaseous hydrogen, citing its higher energy density at extremely low temperatures (-253°C). This allows longer range and performance comparable to diesel trucks. However, it also ties vehicle operation to a very limited number of specialized refuelling stations, currently available only in select locations in Germany such as Wörth am Rhein and the Duisburg region.
According to Daimler Truck, refuelling at an sLH2 station takes 10 to 15 minutes, and the NextGenH2 Truck is capable of traveling more than 1,000 kilometres on a single tank. In a 2023 demonstration, a road-approved prototype achieved a range of 1,047 kilometres.
A major upgrade comes in the drivetrain. The NextGenH2 Truck replaces the earlier dual e-motor setup with the e-axle and four-speed transmission from the eActros 600. While the battery-electric truck delivers up to 600 kW peak power, the hydrogen variant offers up to 340 kW in Economy Mode and 370 kW in Power Mode.
Energy recuperation is supported by a 101 kWh LFP buffer battery, up from 70 kWh in the previous model. Though much smaller than the eActros 600’s three 207 kWh battery packs, this battery helps stabilize power delivery and improve efficiency during braking and downhill driving.
Additional upgrades include a redesigned cooling system, new hydrogen leak sensors that allow overnight stays in the cab, improved boil-off management, and reinforced side skirts with integrated crash protection for the hydrogen tanks. The redesigned “Tech Tower” behind the cab is now more compact, reducing the wheelbase to exactly four metres, improving trailer compatibility and flexibility within EU length regulations.
While Daimler Truck has not disclosed payload or fuel consumption figures, the predecessor offered around 25 tonnes of payload and consumed between 5.6 and 8 kg of hydrogen per 100 kilometres, depending on load and application.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks CEO Achim Puchert emphasized the importance of hydrogen alongside battery-electric solutions, saying the NextGenH2 Truck represents a key step toward sustainable long-haul transport. Small-series deployment is expected to begin in daily operations from late 2026.
The project is backed by €226 million in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Transport and the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg, supporting development, production, and real-world deployment.
