IRU hosted the H2Accelerate consortium as hydrogen truck deployment in the EU transitions from small-scale trials to early market deployment.
The H2Accelerate TRUCKS consortium meeting, held at IRU’s office in Brussels, brought together truck manufacturers, hydrogen suppliers, transport operators, and research partners to advance hydrogen heavy-duty deployment in Europe.
The discussion focused on preparing the first vehicles for commercial operations later this year and the addition of three new truck manufacturers alongside Volvo Trucks: Scania, Hyliko, and Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility.
H2Accelerate TRUCKS works in close coordination with the broader H2Accelerate initiative and is supported by leading truck manufacturers, research institutions and energy infrastructure providers. The initiative aims to develop and deploy zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles powered by renewable hydrogen.
“Hydrogen can play an important role in decarbonising road transport, providing more choices to operators, as different applications and mission profiles require different technologies,” said IRU EU Director Raluca Marian.
“This initiative helps bring clarity to the hydrogen debate. It combines vehicles, infrastructure and operational testing, giving operators the confidence to evaluate hydrogen as part of their decarbonisation strategies,” she added.
Supported by nearly EUR 30 million from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, the project will put 125 hydrogen fuel cell trucks on European roads. The shift from pilot to early market entry signals that hydrogen heavy-duty transport is moving beyond small-scale trials.
The rollout is enabled by a dedicated network of hydrogen refuelling stations. Expansion is underway in key industrial hubs and along core TEN-T corridors – a critical test for cross-border freight operations.
IRU members, including Scania and TotalEnergies, are involved in the deployment, alongside national associations such as Austria’s AISÖ, Italy’s FIAP and Romania’s UNTRR. Their participation grounds the project in operational reality, from route planning and refuelling time to the business case behind investment decisions.
IRU continues to pioneer testing and research-driven innovation, advancing new technologies that support the decarbonisation of the road transport industry under real-world operating conditions.