AUTONEWS

Neither diesel nor electric: the truck with which Volvo wants to revolutionize transportation

The energy transition in heavy transport is opening a new path. Volvo Trucks has begun road tests of its new hydrogen-powered trucks, but with a different approach from the current trend: they are not electric, but rather equipped with internal combustion engines adapted to run on this fuel.

The proposal breaks with the idea that the future lies exclusively in batteries. Volvo is betting on a solution that maintains the logic of diesel, but with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions, which could facilitate a much faster transition in heavy transport.

The core of this technology lies in the so-called high-pressure direct injection, known as HPDI, a system that allows hydrogen to operate in a combustion engine with significantly superior performance to previous solutions of this type. The process involves injecting a small amount of fuel at high pressure before ignition, ensuring more stable, efficient and powerful combustion.

This is not an experimental technology. Volvo already uses it in thousands of trucks powered by liquefied natural gas, which provides a solid foundation for the development of this new generation of engines. This prior experience is precisely one of the arguments the brand uses to support its claim that this alternative can reach the market faster than other more complex solutions.

Volvo is taking another step towards net-zero CO2 emissions transport by starting on‑road trials of heavy trucks with combustion engines powered by hydrogen.

Volvo’s hydrogen-powered trucks will have industry-leading performance with higher energy efficiency, lower fuel consumption and increased engine power compared to conventional hydrogen combustion engine technology.

This is due to 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. Volvo is already using this technology in its gas-powered trucks, with more than 10,000 units sold globally.

“On-road testing is an important milestone for our hydrogen combustion engine trucks. I feel confident that they will be the best in the industry if you look at fuel efficiency, power, torque and drivability. Customers will be able to operate them just like diesel trucks. Our experience with HPDI technology in more than 10,000 gas-powered trucks is strong proof of its performance,” says Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management at Volvo Trucks.

Hydrogen combustion engine trucks will be especially suitable over longer distances and in regions where there is limited charging infrastructure or time for recharging of battery-electric trucks.

Performance: the secret is to feel like a diesel engine...One of the most important aspects of these trucks is that they do not require any changes in working methods. According to Volvo, their on-road performance will be very similar to that of a diesel truck, in terms of power, torque and load capacity, allowing transport operators to maintain their routines without drastic adjustments.

Added to this is a crucial factor in heavy transport: range. These trucks are designed to travel long distances without the current limitations of battery-electric vehicles, and also allow for quick refueling, something essential in operations where time is money.

When green hydrogen is combined with renewable fuels such as HVO, the result can be a net-zero emissions balance from source to end use. This allows these vehicles to qualify as zero-emission vehicles according to European standards, even while using an internal combustion engine.

Volvo trucks with combustion engines powered by green hydrogen have the potential to deliver net zero CO2 well-to-wheel when using renewable HVO as ignition fuel. They are categorized as “Zero Emission Vehicles” (ZEV) under the agreed EU CO2 emission standards.

Volvo’s advanced hydrogen engine technology is derived from its diesel powertrain, delivering diesel-like performance while substantially cutting CO2 emissions.

The hydrogen-powered combustion engine trucks will complement the company’s offering of other alternatives, such as battery electric trucks, fuel cell electric trucks and trucks that run on renewable fuels, like biogas and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).

“We see great potential for hydrogen combustion engine trucks and they will have a role to play in the transformation to zero tailpipe emission transport. Several technologies will be needed to decarbonize. As a global truck manufacturer we offer a variety of decarbonization solutions and help our customers choose the best alternative based on transport assignment, available infrastructure and green energy prices,” says Jan Hjelmgren.

Why hydrogen could be the real solution for heavy transport...Full electrification presents significant challenges for long-distance transport, mainly regarding refueling times and the necessary infrastructure. In this context, hydrogen emerges as a more flexible alternative, capable of adapting to long routes and markets where the electric charging network is still limited.

Volvo does not see this technology as a definitive replacement, but rather as part of a broader ecosystem where different solutions will coexist. The idea is that each type of transport finds the best option based on its real needs, whether through batteries, fuel cells, or combustion engines powered by renewable fuels.

Road tests represent a significant milestone in the development of this technology, although its arrival on the market will still take some time. Volvo anticipates its commercial launch before 2030, in parallel with the implementation of other hydrogen-based solutions.

At a time when everything seems to revolve around electric cars, this approach introduces an important nuance: not all solutions imply abandoning the combustion engine. If hydrogen lives up to its promises, it could become one of the most effective tools for reducing emissions in one of the most difficult sectors to transform. A less visible change than others, but with enormous potential to redefine transportation as we know it.