HeavyDuty Congress 2026 – Focus on Hydrogen-Powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles

At the 4th HeavyDuty Congress on 15 October 2026 in Duisburg, representatives from industry and research discussed current developments and challenges in the rollout of hydrogen-based propulsion technologies.

The ZBT – The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center hosted the event at its facilities in collaboration with the national transformation hub cH2ance. The event focused on technical innovations, cost-effectiveness, infrastructure, and the long-term reliability of fuel cell systems.

Focus on the Cost-Effectiveness of Hydrogen Trucks

Jurn Terpstra of cellcentric presented the BZA375 high-performance fuel cell system, which is already in use in Mercedes-Benz and Volvo trucks. He also discussed an industry initiative aimed at better coordinating vehicle development, hydrogen supply, and refueling infrastructure. The “6-6-260,000 target” refers to a hydrogen consumption rate of 6 kg per 100 km, a hydrogen price of 6 euros per kilogram, and a purchase price of 260,000 euros for a tractor-trailer.

On-site Maintenance

Daniel Herzig of BHFM Technologies presented complete mobile systems for the maintenance and repair of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles. These solutions bring together all the technical equipment needed for on-site service work and enable flexible maintenance of trucks and buses without having to rely on a fully equipped stationary workshop.

Hybrid Energy Systems

Keno Leites and Julian Peters of Zeppelin Power Systems explained how the company integrates components into custom energy systems. Among other things, they presented fuel cell-battery hybrid systems for off-grid applications, such as on construction sites or at events without a direct connection to the power grid.

ZBT: Filter Systems for Long-Lasting Fuel Cells

Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Misz of the ZBT explained why, as fuel cell operating times increase, aging processes within the overall system are becoming a greater focus of attention. Using the KaLiBer research project as an example, he discussed the investigation and design of filter systems for construction and agricultural machinery as well as stationary applications. The test bench enables testing on a reduced scale to reduce costs while still achieving results relevant to real-world applications.

Exchange Between Industry and Research

The HeavyDuty Congress brought together companies, research institutes, and stakeholders in the hydrogen infrastructure sector. In addition to technical presentations, the program featured a panel discussion and guided tours of the ZBT’s test and laboratory facilities. The presentations made it clear that the ramp-up of hydrogen-based propulsion systems requires not only technological advances but also a reliable infrastructure, cost-effective operating concepts, and durable systems.