Daimler Truck to cooperate with KEYOU on the development of hydrogen ICE trucks
KEYOU will be responsible for the hydrogen conversion, with service providers of the Munich-based company adapting vehicles and engines accordingly. Market launch is planned for 2027. So, Daimler Truck plans to sell Mercedes-Benz Actros L 1848 tractor units and engines manufactured in Mannheim based on the existing 12,8-litre engine platform to KEYOU.
Daimler Truck will cooperate with German specialist KEYOU (here’s an interview with the company’s CEO recorded less than two years ago) in order to develop trucks equipped with hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines. As stated by Daimler Truck, “The aim of the partnership is to provide technology that is available in the near term, economically viable, and robust, complementing existing decarbonized drive solutions”.
More into details, KEYOU will be responsible for the hydrogen conversion, with service providers of the Munich-based company adapting vehicles and engines accordingly. Market launch is planned for 2027. Daimler Truck is also working on the development and implementation of their hydrogen fuel cell trucks, namely the Gen H2.
Daimler Truck’s hydrogen ICE project with KEYOU
Under the newly-announced agreement, Daimler Truck plans to sell Mercedes-Benz Actros L 1848 tractor units and engines manufactured in Mannheim based on the existing 12,8-litre engine platform to KEYOU. The latter will be responsible for adapting these to hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines. The technical conversion of the trucks and integration of the KEYOU-inside engines will then take place in cooperation with qualified external conversion partners. The resulting tractor unit, the KEYOU HICE.40, is designed for a gross vehicle weight of 40 tons and, thanks to the 350-bar compressed hydrogen technology. According to the manufacturer, it is expected to achieve a range of up to 650 kilometers.
KEYOU will subsequently offer the vehicles to costumers, potentially also in combination with developing hydrogen refueling infrastructure. “The partnership with Daimler Truck is an important step for us to bring our KEYOU-inside technology into industrial application. Together, we can significantly accelerate the development and scaling of hydrogen-based drive solutions in the commercial vehicle sector and thus make a tangible contribution to decarbonizing heavy-duty transport”, declared Thomas Korn, CEO and Co-founder of KEYOU.
“The road freight transport sector requires different drive solutions for different applications. Hydrogen can be used to power both fuel cells and internal combustion engines. By working with KEYOU, we are partnering with a specialized company to bring hydrogen combustion technology to market quickly and efficiently”, added Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck responsible for Truck Technology.
