Daimler and volvo confirm hydrogen energy trend, jointly develop heavy-duty vehicles

Mercedes-Benz has been investing in the development of hydrogen energy vehicles for more than 30 years. In order to start the production of its hydrogen infrastructure, in 2013, it cooperated with Ford and Nissan to develop the hydrogen fuel cell of GLC-F-Cell, and produced hundreds of hydrogen energy vehicles. However, due to the practical consideration that the cost is almost twice as high as that of lithium vehicles, the plan to terminate its mass production in 2020 has decided to shift the focus of new energy vehicles to lithium vehicles that are active in the mainstream market. However, even if the company made this decision, it does not deny the potential of hydrogen vehicles. One is that its research director Markus Schafer said in January 2020 that hydrogen fuel cells work well, but there are concerns about costs that will affect expansion and sales. If the interpretation of its meaning is expanded, perhaps after the cost is reduced to a considerable extent in the future, Mercedes will return to the market of hydrogen vehicles. The second is that Mercedes' parent company Daimler is actively deploying hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles, and has cooperated with Sweden's Volvo Motors to set up a joint venture Cellcentric. In addition to the expected production of hydrogen fuel cells in 2025 for use in long-distance transport trucks; on the other hand,it is also necessary to develop more mature lithium-electric powered trucks for applications where short-distance transportation can be completed in a single day and charging can be completed overnight. As trucks crisscross Europe, the U.S. and other parts of the world, delivering goods to multiple destinations, hydrogen has been seen as an indispensable fuel for zero-emission long-haul heavy-duty trucks.

Daimler believes that diesel is the most efficient fuel for such tasks, and hydrogen is the best choice for transporting 40 tons of cargo to mountain areas. Because trucks typically spend three to four times more fuel over the life of the truck than they do on the vehicle itself, the company predicts that hydrogen- and lithium-battery-powered trucks will remain more expensive than diesel-powered ones for at least the next 15 years. However, failing to do so will face a hefty fine from the EU. But the use of green energy, which can be subsidized by the EU's Green Agreement or other incentives, makes the adoption of hydrogen fuel imperative.

The two groups believe that while diesel trucks will dominate sales for the next three to four years after 2020, hydrogen fuel will take off between 2027 and 2030 before rising sharply. Volvo aims to have half of its trucks sold in Europe powered by hydrogen or pure lithium by 2030, and both groups want to be completely zero-emissions by 2040. This can fully demonstrate the necessity and irreplaceability of hydrogen trucks. Although Mercedes terminated the GLC-F-Cell project, Reuters revealed in September 2021 that sources familiar with the company's plans said the project could be reboot easily as long as the European Commission or the green-involved German government decides to promote hydrogen vehicles. Daimler executives predict that sales of hydrogen energy vehicles and lithium electric vehicles will eventually reach about 50 to 50.


References
 

• Electrek, 2020-04-22, Bradley Berman, Daimler ends hydrogen car development because it’s too costly

• Financial Times, 2020-05-10, Richard Milne, Volvo and Daimler bet on hydrogen truck boom this decade

• Green Car Congress, 2022-05-20, Renault Scénic Vision hydrogen hybrid concept offers 75% smaller carbon footprint than a conventional BEV

• Electrek, 2022-01-20, Scooter Doll, Honda CEO says Toyota’s strategy topursue hydrogen combustion ‘doesn’t seem feasible’
• CNBC,2021-06-21, Michael Wayland, GM plans to expand fuel-cell businessbeyond EVs

• General Motors, News Room, GM Plans to Broaden Electrification, Expanding Fuel Cells Beyond Vehicles

• Reuters, 2021-09-22, Nick Garey, German auto giants place their bets on hydrogen car

• CNBC,2022-05-22, Anmar Frangoul, The most dumb thing’: Elon Musk dismisses hydrogen as tool for energy storage
• Bloomberg, 2022-05-26, Annie Lee, The Trouble With Lithium 
• Gear Patrol, 2022-03-15, Tyler Duffy, Ford May Be Planning to Keep the Internal Combustion Mustang Alive