Volvo takes hydrogen combustion trucks onto public roads — diesel performance, near-zero emissions

Volvo Trucks has begun on-road testing of heavy-duty trucks powered by hydrogen combustion engines. Following laboratory and test bench work, the vehicles are now being evaluated in real driving conditions. A commercial launch in Europe is planned before 2030.

What makes this technology stand out? Rather than using a fuel cell — where hydrogen is converted into electricity — Volvo burns hydrogen directly in a combustion engine, using HPDI technology: High Pressure Direct Injection. A small amount of ignition fuel is injected at high pressure before hydrogen is introduced, enabling efficient compression ignition. Volvo already applies this approach in its gas-powered trucks, with more than 10,000 units sold worldwide.

The result is a truck that drives like a diesel but with dramatically reduced CO₂ emissions. When powered by green hydrogen and renewable HVO as ignition fuel, these trucks have the potential to achieve net-zero CO₂ on a well-to-wheel basis. Under EU regulations, they are classified as Zero Emission Vehicles.

"On-road testing is an important milestone for our hydrogen combustion engine trucks. Customers will be able to operate them just like diesel trucks." — Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management at Volvo Trucks

The hydrogen combustion truck is particularly well-suited for long-haul transport and regions where charging infrastructure for battery-electric trucks is limited or time-consuming. Its operational range is said to exceed the average daily driving distance of most fleets.

Volvo pursues three decarbonisation pathways: battery-electric, fuel-cell electric, and combustion engines running on renewable fuels such as hydrogen and biogas. The hydrogen combustion truck fits the third path and complements the other options depending on operational needs, available infrastructure and energy costs. Volvo also plans to launch fuel-cell electric trucks in limited volumes before 2030.