Dachser to inaugurate its first hydrogen trucks in 2023
German family-owned logistics provider Dachser is moving further towards decarbonising its truck fleet. The road freight specialist has scheduled to launch its first hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicles in 2023: one for regional distribution, another for city delivery.
In 2023, Dachser plans to put two hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) trucks into service in Germany. In Magdeburg, the company will commence operating a Hyundai Xcient hydrogen fuel-cell truck in early 2023. The vehicle, which has a total permissible weight of 27 tonnes and offers 18 pallet spaces, has a range of up to 400 kilometres, which means it can be used in two‑shift operations.
The truck will be driven by professional drivers who are completing their training at Dachser this year. While the FCEV truck is tested in regional distribution to the Magdeburg area by day, by night it will be driving to Dachser’s branch in Berlin-Schönefeld in system traffic. For night-time operations, the zero-emission vehicle will be equipped with a tandem swap-body trailer. Facilities for the truck to refuel with hydrogen will be available near the two Dachser branches in Magdeburg and Berlin by the time the vehicle is delivered.
Dachser’s contractual partner in this project is H2 Delivery Truck Pool GmbH & Co. KG in Magdeburg. The sales company is part of H2 Green Power & Logistics GmbH, which presented hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle logistics with the Hyundai Xcient FCEV truck at its roadshow, visiting eleven German cities at the end of 2021.
Bluepower in Hamburg
Starting in mid-2023, Dachser will deploy a Bluepower 1938 FCEV truck from Bremen-based Enginius, a subsidiary of the Faun Group, for city-centre deliveries in Hamburg. The truck will complement the DACHSER Emission-Free Delivery concept, which features zero local emissions and is scheduled to launch in Hamburg as early as fall 2022. The Bluepower 1938 has a permissible total weight of 19 tonnes and can transport up to 18 pallets of goods with its fixed box trailer. Its estimated range of 250 kilometres plus reserve is ideal for city-centre deliveries and also offers very high recuperation potential. Refuelling is to take place at the hydrogen filling station in Hamburg’s HafenCity.
“As part of a study with Kempten University of Applied Sciences, we’ve already determined that there is considerable potential for hydrogen trucks in Dachser’s European groupage network. We’re looking forward to introducing the first hydrogen trucks to the Dachser network, as this means we’ll be able to gather valuable hands-on experience with them,” explained Stefan Hohm, chief development officer (CDO) and member of the executive board at Dachser.
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