The BMW Group is increasingly focusing on emission-free transport logistics and is putting two hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks into practical use. The vehicles are being tested as part of the European H2Haul project and are intended to demonstrate the everyday suitability of this technology in heavy-duty transport. The trucks operate on routes between Leipzig, Landsberg, and Nuremberg.
New Hydrogen Stations for Continuous Operation
To ensure efficient operation of hydrogen trucks, two state-of-the-art hydrogen stations are being established in Leipzig and Hormersdorf. These enable the rapid refueling of large amounts of hydrogen, thereby contributing to the continuous operational capability of vehicles in logistic transport.
“Even in global logistics, the right choice of transport mode is important to be future-oriented and efficient. Accordingly, BMW Group's openness to technology is also reflected in transport logistics. For the first time, hydrogen-powered trucks are now being used in series operation for German automobile production,” said Michael Nikolaides, Head of Production Network and Logistics at BMW Group.
The H2Haul project is supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and includes a total of 16 trucks being tested in various European countries. Two of these vehicles, "IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell" trucks, are being utilized in the logistics of the BMW Group in Germany. The aim is to further develop hydrogen technology and pave the way for future series production of fuel cell trucks.
"We have been working together with our partners for several years on the implementation of the pilot fleet. This project is an important milestone to gain experience in series operation and to further advance this important technology," Nikolaides continued.
In this project, the BMW Group is collaborating with Iveco, DHL, and TEAL Mobility. The insights gained from real-world operations are expected to help bring the technology to market maturity and integrate it into everyday logistics in the long term. Thanks to short refueling times and a higher range, hydrogen trucks offer a promising complement to battery-electric trucks that are already being used in the BMW logistics fleet.
Expansion through the HyCET Project with H2 Combustion Engines
In addition to deploying fuel cell trucks, the BMW Group is also participating in the HyCET research project (Hydrogen Combustion Engine Trucks), which examines the practicality of hydrogen combustion engines. Under the consortium leadership of the BMW Group, two 40-ton trucks and one 18-ton truck are being tested. Partners in this project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), include DHL, Volvo Trucks, Deutz, KEYOU, and TotalEnergies.
The parallel testing of fuel cells and hydrogen combustion engines illustrates the BMW Group's technology-neutral approach in transport logistics. Although H2 combustion engines consume more energy than fuel cells, they can score with lower production costs due to their similarity to conventional diesel engines. According to EU regulations, they are also considered zero-emission vehicles.
Role Model of the Leipzig Plant in Hydrogen Utilization
Since 2013, the BMW Group's Leipzig plant has been using hydrogen as an energy carrier in intralogistics. The plant now has one of the largest fleets of fuel cell-powered industrial trucks in Europe. Five hydrogen filling stations are located on the plant premises, including a facility with fully automated refueling processes.
Additionally, the plant uses innovative burner technology in the paint shop that can use hydrogen as well as natural gas as an energy carrier. Currently, five bi-fuel burners are in operation for the contrast roof painting of the MINI Countryman. In the long term, the plant plans to switch completely to hydrogen to further reduce CO2 emissions.
"Our vision for Leipzig is the extensive decarbonization of production. This can be achieved, among other things, by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen," describes Petra Peterhänsel, head of the BMW Group Leipzig plant, outlining the plant's long-term orientation.
Mass Production of a Hydrogen-Powered BMW Model from 2028
In addition to using hydrogen in logistics and production, the BMW Group is also working on the market launch of a hydrogen-powered production model. Following successful tests with the pilot fleet of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, series production of an FCEV model is set to begin in 2028.
With this strategy, BMW pursues a holistic approach to sustainable mobility and views fuel cell technology as a meaningful complement to battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV). The new FCEV series will be integrated into the existing vehicle portfolio, offering customers another emission-free drive solution.
