Testing of an 18-ton truck with a hydrogen combustion engine is currently underway at the BMW Group Plant in Leipzig, Germany. The truck uses a piston engine based on existing diesel technology, with hydrogen being burned to produce water vapor and practically no carbon dioxide.
As part of this project, the truck will be used to supply the Technology Exterior Components (TEK) division at Plant Leipzig with parts for plastic components such as bumpers and spoilers. In a proposed second phase, the hydrogen truck will supply the vehicle assembly with completed exterior components from TEK.
Testing of the new truck will take place both on longer routes and on shorter trips within close proximity to the plant. The goal of this testing is to identify suitable logistics applications for vehicles with hydrogen-combustion engines.
Since the engine is based on existing diesel technology, integrating it into existing vehicle and maintenance structures should be relatively easy. The hydrogen combustion engine's performance is comparable to that of traditional diesel engines, and the truck has a shorter refueling time than most diesel vehicles. Naturally, the hydrogen itself burns cleaner and produces far fewer emissions, making it a far more environmentally friendly option if this testing goes well. However, an appropriate and reliable hydrogen fueling infrastructure is still necessary.
While we are still a few years away from commercially available hydrogen-powered vehicles, BMW of Lincoln has an excellent selection of BMW vehicles available. Visit our dealership to test-drive one today.