The German bet: a hydrogen-powered truck that covers more than 1,000 kilometers
A German hydrogen-powered Daimler truck crossed the finish line in Berlin after completing a record 1,047-kilometre (650-mile) journey with a single tank.
The Mercedes-Benz GenH2 truck began its trial run at the group's factory in the Worth am Rhein region on Monday afternoon, near the border with France, before arriving in the German capital on Tuesday morning.
Throughout this journey, the prototype truck used only one fill of liquid hydrogen, similar to what a diesel-powered truck would do.
A map representing the route traveled by the truck AFP
It is worth noting that the hydrogen fuel cell technology used in the truck emits only water vapor, unlike diesel fuel, which is considered one of the main causes of air pollution.
The German company Daimler Truck, one of the largest truck manufacturers in the world, said that this achievement of covering a distance of 1,000 kilometers represents “another milestone” for hydrogen-powered driving.
This sustainable technology still faces many difficulties before it is widely adopted, as hydrogen fuel can be produced through the electrolysis of water, but it is not considered “green” unless the electricity needed for the process is obtained from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar energy.
In contrast, hydrogen produced using coal or natural gas is widely available, but less environmentally friendly.
Despite all the technical challenges, high costs, and lack of infrastructure necessary to achieve these sustainable goals, Germany is betting on promoting the adoption of clean hydrogen to reduce land transport emissions, along with battery-powered electric cars.
Source: websites