Daimler Truck, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed a memorandum of understanding to examine the establishment of an international supply chain for green liquid hydrogen (LH₂). The agreement was formalised at the “Hydrogen Technology World Expo” in Hamburg.
The partnership aims to facilitate the import of liquid hydrogen from producing countries to Germany, positioning Hamburg as a central hub for onward distribution across Europe. Over the coming months, the partners will assess the logistics required for handling, storage and onward transport by road and rail.
Complementary strengths across the value chain
Each company brings unique expertise to the collaboration: HHLA, as a European logistics provider with access to an extensive hinterland network; Daimler Truck, as a manufacturer of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles; and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, as a technology supplier for liquid hydrogen infrastructure.
According to Kawasaki, the company has proven technologies for the production, storage, transport and unloading of LH₂. Kawasaki is currently developing liquid hydrogen carriers with capacities of up to 160,000 cubic metres.
GenH2 Truck as part of the transport solution
Daimler Truck sees the partnership as a contribution to the decarbonisation of heavy-duty transport. The Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, powered by liquid hydrogen, is set to play a key role in the onward transportation of imported hydrogen. “Our Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck can not only serve as a customer for green liquid hydrogen, but also enable onward road transport,” said Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management for Truck Technology at Daimler Truck.
Daimler Truck has been testing GenH2 Truck prototypes since 2021. In 2023, one vehicle completed a 1,047 kilometre journey on a single tank under real-world conditions. During an initial trial phase, five vehicles covered a combined total of more than 225,000 kilometres in customer operations. A second test phase is planned for 2026. From late 2026, a limited series of 100 vehicles will be produced at the Wörth plant.
HHLA aims to expand hydrogen logistics network
HHLA plans to leverage its European logistics network for hydrogen transport. CFO Annette Walter highlighted the advantages of liquid hydrogen: “It can be transported independently of pipelines – a major benefit for mobility, logistics, aviation and especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.”
HHLA is also working to integrate fuel cells into handling equipment and heavy-duty vehicles within the “Clean Ports & Logistics” innovation cluster, with the aim of reducing emissions in port operations.
