MAN launches hydrogen truck testing

Road testing of hydrogen-powered trucks has begun as part of the Bayernflotte project. This marks the final phase of the research project, which was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. To this end, MAN Truck & Bus has handed over three fuel cell trucks to LoadFox Transport Solutions GmbH. The vehicles will be deployed in regular logistics operations over a period of three months. Routes will run between MAN locations in Munich, Dachau and Nuremberg, as well as on additional routes throughout southern Germany.

The fuel cell trucks deployed in the project are based on an electric drive system in which hydrogen in gaseous form is converted into electrical energy. The core component is the fuel cell system supplied by project partner Robert Bosch GmbH. High-voltage batteries complement the energy supply to cover peak loads and store recuperated energy. The AxTrax two dual electric drive axle from ZF converts the energy into propulsion.

The hydrogen is stored in 700-bar pressure tanks from Forvia with a currently installed capacity of 36 kg. The vehicles are designed for a range of approximately 450 - 500 km. In total, the Bayernflotte trucks deliver a drive output of 350 kW. In practical operation, hydrogen consumption is around seven to eight kilograms per 100 km. With a wheelbase of 4000 mm, an unladen weight of approximately 11.5 t and a designed gross combination weight of up to 42 t, the vehicles meet the requirements of heavy distribution and long-haul transport applications.

LoadFox is acting as the operational logistics partner in this project. As an in-house transport company set up by MAN, LoadFox operates prototype vehicles and autonomous vehicles, and tests digital services under real-world conditions in freight transport. The aim is to gain valuable insights from the customer’s perspective through the direct application of innovative technologies in day-to-day operations, with a view to the targeted further development of products and services for MAN.

The data generated within the Bayernflotte project will be systematically evaluated and incorporated into the further development of hydrogen technologies within the TRATON Group. The focus is on efficiency, reliability and economic viability in day-to-day operations. This has laid the foundation for future vehicle generations.

MAN expects battery-electric commercial vehicles to become the dominant technology in road freight transport, as they outperform all other drive technologies in terms of energy efficiency, operating costs and greenhouse gas reduction potential. Hydrogen technologies, such as the MAN hTGX hydrogen combustion engine vehicles already introduced in a limited series, and fuel cell-powered vehicles in the future, can play an important complementary role in specific applications – for example, on very long transport routes or in regions with insufficient charging infrastructure.

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