Volvo Trucks joins the Hydrogen ICE bandwagon; on-roads tests from 2026

International truck maker Volvo Trucks has announced the development of trucks with combustion engines that run on hydrogen, giving a significant push to the emerging technology of hydrogen combustion engine that is just picking up in the commercial and off-highway segments. 

The company has said that the on-road tests hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICE) powered trucks will begin in 2026, with the commercial launch being planned towards the end of this decade. 

Trucks that run on green hydrogen instead of fossil fuels provide one way to decarbonize transport. Hydrogen trucks will be ideally suitable over longer distances and in regions where there is limited charging infrastructure, or time for, recharging of batteries, the company adds. 

The hydrogen-powered combustion engine trucks will complement Volvo's wide range of clean transportation technologies, such as battery electric trucks, fuel cell electric trucks and trucks that run on renewable fuels, like biogas and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).

"Trucks where the traditional internal combustion engine remains but runs on hydrogen will have the same performance and reliability as our diesel trucks, but with the added benefit of potentially net zero CO2 emissions well-to-wheel. They will be a valuable complement to our battery electric trucks, which have been on the market for several years," said Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management and Quality, Volvo Trucks.

Volvo's hydrogen-powered combustion engines will feature High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI), a technology where a small amount of ignition fuel is injected with high pressure to enable compression ignition before hydrogen is added. 

The advantages of this technology include higher energy efficiency with lower fuel consumption, and increased engine power, according to the company. When powered by green hydrogen, these engines have the potential to deliver net zero CO₂ well-to-wheel when using renewable HVO as ignition fuel, and the trucks are categorized as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) under the agreed new EU CO2 emission standards.

Hjelmgren added, "It's clear that several kinds of technology are needed to decarbonize heavy transport. As a global truck manufacturer, we need to support our customers by offering a variety of decarbonization solutions, and customers can choose their alternative based on transport assignment, available infrastructure and green energy prices". 

For utilizing the HPDI technology, Volvo Group has signed an agreement with Westport Fuel Systems to establish a joint venture, which is anticipated to become operational in the second quarter of 2024.