HGVs Archives

Hydrogen for HGV Heavies

Posted on 26 November, 202429 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Heavy Goods Vehicles are well-suited to the use of hydrogen for carbon-free transport fleets and good progress is being made. Richard Shepherd-Barron reports for Logistics Business.

In recent years the emphasis on clean power has been very much concentrated on electric vehicles – especially in the light van and medium vehicle sectors. However, there are drawbacks, such as the reduction in load capacity with an increase in the unladen weight from the batteries and the reduction in operating mileage with the need to recharge. Truck makers across the world have been working on the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles and with a particular emphasis on larger trucks although it has been interesting to see that four makers of light commercial vehicles introduced new hydrogen-powered models at the recent IAA Transportation show in Hannover. This has provided a clear indication of the appeal of this technology.

All this activity has not gone unnoticed in EU circles and an additional €1.2 billion fund has just been announced by the European Commission to support the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO). At the same time, MAN Energy Solutions subsidiary company, electrolysis specialist Quest One, has opened a new ‘giga hub’ for the serial and automated production of electrolysis stacks in Hamburg. At full capacity this new factory is expected to produce stacks with a potential total electrolysis capacity of over five gigawatts per year. The UK is not lagging behind, with the Government announcing in October an £88 million finding boost for zero emission tech firms.

There are two ways to produce hydrogen. Firstly, by cracking fossil fuels – this is called ‘grey’ hydrogen because CO2 is always released when fossil fuels are processed. A second, and much cleaner way to create hydrogen is through electrolysis – when electricity generated from renewable sources is passed through water to create oxygen and hydrogen for a 100% carbon-free product. Used in vehicle engines, this produces only water as its emission.

There are two types of hydrogen-powered vehicle – one using hydrogen fuel-cells to generate electricity to drive electric propulsion and the other where hydrogen replaces diesel fuel in a conventional engine. Both systems require tanks for the hydrogen. The fuel-cell units are, of course, totally silent but the combustion engines have an advantage in hot climates and where power is needed over long periods.

Alternative Zero Emissions

MAN have won the Truck Innovation Award 2025 for their hTGX hydrogen combustion truck (pictured) offering an alternative zero-emission solution. Delivery of the first 200 units starts next year to customers in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and selected non-European countries providing an alternative zero-emission solution. Using the proven H45 engine, it is available in 6×2 and 6×4 axle configurations, enabling a high payload and with maximum ranges of up to 600 kms.

Volvo are also working on hydrogen fuelled trucks, but Toyota have gone further by carrying out trials in Belgium with a new hydrogen fuel-cell powered delivery truck for Coca Cola. This trial is in conjunction with the i gases company, Air Liquide. This collaboration is designed to highlight the potential development of both vehicles and infrastructure to provide operators with zero-emission vehicles. Toyota are also testing this system in trucks used by their logistics providers on their daily routes in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Mercedes-Benz have their GenH2 truck which has a range of more than 1,000 km, carrying the same payload as a conventional diesel vehicle.

In the UK, Hydrogen Vehicle systems (HVS) has signed a deal to deliver 30 of its hydrogen fuel cell electric tractor units to Worksop-based Explore Plant and Transport Solutions. The trucks will be supported by a service and maintenance plan, full training on the safe use of hydrogen and refuelling, along with hydrogen refuelling infrastructure that fully meets Explore’s operational needs. Vauxhall is beginning customer trials of hydrogen fuel cell vans, based on their current Vivaro Electric range.

Providing an alternative to battery-electric vehicles, particularly at the heavy end of operations, the future looks strong for hydrogen power.

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Electric Heavy Goods Vehicles in Action

Posted on 15 May, 20247 August, 2025 by David Priestman

The transition to electric vehicles is not just a trend; it is one of the solutions to shift towards sustainable logistics whilst the industry navigates through the transition period, according to Girteka Group. As global discussions intensify around decarbonizing transport and optimizing supply chains, adopting battery electric heavy goods vehicles (HDVs) emerges as a practical and effective solution. While still in its early stages, the adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has already demonstrated potential of reductions in carbon footprints, providing a promising glimpse into a more sustainable future.

Simple but Effective Solution

Thermomax, a Norwegian transport company, part of the Girteka Group, provides heavy goods transportation services using Volvo’s BEVs for one of its domestic customers. The purpose of this solution is straightforward – to enhance the sustainability of logistics operations by replacing conventional diesel trucks with BEVs.

At the core of this project is a simple yet effective strategy: combining BEVs with intermodal rail transportation. The transportation services conducted by Thermomax in the Trondheim area of Norway involve trucks traveling approximately 150 km daily to maintain a steady flow of goods. The cargo is delivered from a railway station to a warehouse. This approach showcases a practical commitment to reducing environmental impact of transport operations while maintaining efficiency by utilizing various forms of sustainable transport in joint creation with the customer.

Constant Data Monitoring

One of today’s advantages with modern trucks and advanced telematics is the constant monitoring of the truck’s performance. All data that can be analysed is stored and available online, providing opportunities to monitor cargo transportation for both logistics companies and their customers. In this particular case of using a BEV, information about the engine’s power usage and more are being gathered during the operations. This data allows for an investigation of energy consumption levels based on distance, average parameters of consumed energy, propulsion used, or energy regeneration.

Throughout this project, the Volvo battery electric vehicle has already been travelling for five months, consuming a total of 12,600 kWh (excluding charging) while conducting deliveries. While daily exploitation of the truck differs due to specific circumstances, the system analyses average energy consumption based on 100 km driven.

From November 2023 to March 2024, the average energy consumption fluctuated around 150 kWh per each 100 km. The energy consumption varies with the temperature and on the whole year the is expected to be lower on average than for the winter period. Throughout the total of 330 hours of driving at an average speed of 42 km/h and using cruise control at the level of more than 30%, the BEV covered more than 8,000 km.

“At Volvo, we believe in the power of collaboration to advance electric truck technology and enable our customers to electrify their transport operation. Working closely with logistics companies like Girteka Group allows us to get feedback that is crucial for improving our electric vehicles. This partnership approach ensures that we understand the needs and challenges of the industry, enabling us to develop more efficient and sustainable transportation solutions together,” says Stefan Widlund, Electromobility Director at Volvo Trucks.

Real Environmental Effect

While the current usage of electric trucks is still primarily limited to domestic transport, mostly due to infrastructure challenges, the real environmental effect can be easily calculated. However, the calculation depends on various factors, including the energy source for the electricity, ways of truck utilization, or weight of loads. Within this example, the transition to BEVs has resulted in a reduction of 6.2 tonnes of CO2 over just a few months. This figure represents a clear, measurable benefit of adopting electric vehicles in terms of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“We already see in practice the positive environmental impacts of using electric trucks. Scaling up these initiatives is crucial, and it requires a deep understanding of the challenges involved. By continuously analysing our experiences and sharing the benefits through co-creation with all partners in the Supply Chain, we aim to demonstrate to our customers the real advantages of transitioning to battery electric vehicles. This approach is not just about improving our operations; it is about leading the way in sustainable logistics for the entire industry,” summarizes Mark Mulder, Chief Commercial Officer at Girteka.

While individual effects can still be discussable, the scale makes a difference. Taking into consideration that more than 6 million trucks are currently circulating in Europe, even a small step like this can make a difference. The shift to electric heavy goods vehicles is a crucial step towards a sustainable future in logistics.

Girteka Group Launches Educational Campaign on Sustainability

Tests for Emission-free Heavy Goods Transport

Posted on 19 April, 202429 July, 2025 by David Priestman

By 2050, Europe should be the first CO2-neutral continent – that is the goal of the “Green Deal”. In order to achieve this, there is more to be done, particularly in the transport sector. Electrification of vehicles is most likely the most important driver. The EU-funded project “ZEFES” project (Zero Emissions flexible vehicle platforms with modular powertrains serving the long-haul Freight Eco System) is researching the possibilities for long-distance heavy goods transport in order to achieve the objectives of the “Green Deal”. In a first step, the transport company Gruber Logistics, one of the project partners, is now collecting data: Under real conditions, how many stops does a vehicle make in long-distance transport today, how often does it brake or when and where does it reach which speed?

With a total budget of almost €40 million 40 partners from 14 different nations are working on the project and carrying out various tests with Battery Electric Trucks and Fuel Cell Electric Trucks.

Gruber Logistics has been collecting data for FCEVs on a defined route Verona to southern Germany via the Brenner Pass since the end of February. Initially, no FCEVs will be used here, but tests with diesel vehicles will be carried out in order to define a baseline for future tests with real FCEVs.

The tests are being carried out in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute, which has developed a device plus API for this purpose, as well as the companies RICARDO, TNO and Scania. This broad expertise makes it possible to record and analyze data with high precision and frequency using the device installed in the truck. In this case, this means in fractions of a second. In comparison to other tests that obtain data via Fleet Management Systems, for example, or where connection-susceptible mobile communications are used for data transmission, the Gruber Logistics test can be expected to produce high quality data. Efficiency improvements, mass production capabilities and the use of technologies in daily use were defined as the test criteria.

Emission-free Heavy Goods Transport

The results of the test phase will subsequently be doubly valuable: on the one hand, the suitability of FCEVs in real-life operation can be better assessed and, on the other, the acceptance of zero-emission vehicles should be brought forward. ZEFES was launched in January 2023 and is scheduled to end in 2026. Even though it will still take some time until then, the first expected results can already be recorded: For example, the use of modular vehicles will result in both cost savings and the creation of new business cases for logistics companies. In cooperation with Scania, Gruber Logistics will also use the collected data for the real prototypes that are already running and will be used in the future.

“Gruber Logistics is pursuing a sustainable, future-orientated strategy. We are convinced that the entire transport sector will and must move in this direction, and we want to help drive this development forward. ZEFES shows a new paradigm where transport companies are not just a final user but are called to be co-designers of new electric and hydrogen vehicles. To optimize such vehicles, we need new logistics models, therefore it is necessary that the vehicles are designed in relation to new utilization. We need a different kind of logistics,” says Martin Gruber, Managing Director of Gruber Logistics.

Emission-free Truck Fleet