Bosch’s First Hydrogen Truck Hits the Road, A Powerful Signal for the Future of Logistics

Bosch’s First Hydrogen Truck Hits the Road

Hydrogen is no longer a distant promise. It’s here, on the road, hauling real freight. Bosch has officially deployed its first hydrogen fuel cell truck into day-to-day operation at its Nuremberg plant in Germany, marking a significant step forward in clean, heavy-duty transport.

The 40-tonne Iveco S-eWay, powered by Bosch’s Fuel Cell Power Module (FCPM), will run approximately 12,000 kilometres each year, transporting goods between Bosch facilities. Operated by Schäflein and leased through Hylane, the vehicle is more than a proof of concept. It’s a fully functional, zero-emission logistics asset that demonstrates hydrogen’s ability to perform under real-world industrial conditions.

The Technology Behind It

At the heart of this innovation lies Bosch’s FCPM, recently nominated for the German President’s Future Prize. This module delivers over 200 kW of continuous power, which equates to nearly 270 horsepower, feeding an advanced central e-axle. Supporting the system are two high-performance battery packs that handle short-term power bursts for acceleration and hill climbs.

The combined output of the system reaches around 400 kW, or 540 horsepower, ensuring the truck delivers the torque and endurance needed for logistics operations without sacrificing performance. Hydrogen is stored in five 700-bar tanks that can hold up to 70 kg of fuel, providing a range of up to 800 km (500 miles) on a single fill. Refuelling takes only a few minutes, similar to diesel, a crucial advantage for time-sensitive logistics.

Why Hydrogen Trucks Are a Game-Changer

For logistics operators, Bosch’s move represents a turning point. Heavy-duty freight transport has always been one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. While battery-electric trucks are making impressive progress, hydrogen offers an equally powerful alternative for routes that demand high payloads, long distances, and minimal downtime.

Hydrogen fuel cell trucks combine the best of both worlds, the smooth, efficient, and silent operation of electric vehicles with the endurance and quick refuelling of traditional combustion engines. That means no compromise between sustainability and uptime, something fleet managers have been demanding for years.

Benefits for Logistics Companies

For companies running large or mixed fleets, this development is a signal to start preparing for a multi-fuel future. The key advantages of hydrogen trucks include:

• Extended Range: Up to 800 km on one fill, ideal for regional and international routes.

• Fast Refuelling: Comparable to diesel, keeping trucks on the road instead of charging bays.

• High Payload Capacity: Capable of handling up to 44 tonnes gross vehicle weight.

• Cold-Weather Resilience: No drop-off in performance in low temperatures.

• Low Maintenance and Downtime: Fewer moving parts than combustion engines.

In short, hydrogen delivers the reliability logistics companies rely on while meeting the growing pressure to decarbonise operations.

A New Era of Decarbonised Logistics

At ZeroMission, we believe this milestone is part of a broader transformation reshaping the logistics landscape across Europe and beyond. Fleets are no longer asking if they should go zero-emission, but how. And the answer increasingly lies in smart integration, combining electric, hydrogen, and alternative fuel systems into one intelligent, connected ecosystem.

That’s where éxō by ZeroMission comes in. By creating a digital twin of a fleet’s operations, mapping vehicles, depots, energy usage, routes, and costs, we help logistics companies understand which technologies make the most sense for their duty cycles, budgets, and infrastructure.

For example:

• Where does hydrogen make more sense than battery-electric?

• How can depot charging and hydrogen refuelling coexist efficiently?

• What predictive maintenance and telematics data can improve uptime and safety?

• How do carbon reporting and ESG goals align with operational realities?

Hydrogen is not a silver bullet, but it is a critical piece of the zero-emission puzzle. Bosch’s truck demonstrates that hydrogen-electric systems can handle real freight in real conditions, and that’s a breakthrough the logistics industry has been waiting for.

The Bigger Picture

Globally, governments and manufacturers are accelerating hydrogen investment. Germany’s National Hydrogen Strategy, the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), and multi-billion-euro funding schemes across the UK, Ireland, and the US are all aimed at creating a viable hydrogen economy.

As hydrogen refuelling corridors expand and the cost of green hydrogen continues to fall, logistics companies that start planning today will be best positioned to take advantage of these incentives and stay ahead of regulatory change.

Bosch’s example shows that the technology is ready. Now it’s about scaling infrastructure, securing supply, and integrating hydrogen into intelligent, data-driven fleet operations.

ZeroMission’s Takeaway

For logistics leaders, this is the time to explore, pilot, and plan. Bosch’s hydrogen truck isn’t just a headline; it’s a practical signal that zero-emission logistics is entering a new, scalable phase.

At ZeroMission, we work with fleets across Ireland, the UK, and North America to make that transition real, combining digital intelligence, funding guidance, and operational insight to help logistics companies choose the right technology for their journey to zero.