January saw the rollout of DHL Freight’s first hydrogen truck pilot at its Eindhoven terminal. This move was an essential step to achieve its zero-emission road freight goals. Now, with the inclusion of the hydrogen-powered vehicle in daily operations, the site is furthering its goal to have a completely diesel-free cartage fleet by 2026. While the introduction of the first hydrogen truck is visually striking, its real importance lies in the operational data it will generate under commercial conditions. The initiative forms part of DHL Freight’s wider decarbonization drive, with the Eindhoven team aiming to eliminate diesel from pick up and deliveries within this year. Alongside battery electric vehicles and biofuels, hydrogen is now being evaluated as a core technology in the clean fleet mix.
Unlike limited pilot trials in controlled settings, the first hydrogen truck is operating in standard day-to-day freight routes. This approach allows the team to measure real-life handling, costs, and operational impact. “The hydrogen truck will provide us with important insights for decarbonizing our fleet. With rising diesel and electricity prices, this technology could become an attractive operating solution,” said Ann Schildermans, TBO Manager DHL Freight, who, together with colleague Cencio Vlijt, helped drive the project from concept to launch. The truck is leased via hylane, a start-up founded in 2021 in Cologne, Germany, offering a Transport-as-a-Service model that charges only for kilometers driven. Schuurman Logistics, the long-standing carrier partner for the Eindhoven terminal, manages daily operations and provides the driver, while Teal Mobility — a joint venture of Air Liquide and TotalEnergies — supplies the hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
The pilot is planned to observe the first hydrogen truck cover approximately 300 km per day across Overijssel and Gelderland, and collect data on:
- real-life range and refueling patterns,
- energy usage under operational load,
- required driver experience and training,
- customer feedback,
- cost comparison with diesel and electric alternatives,
- and feasibility for scaling toward the 2026 diesel-free goal.
The results will help DHL Freight make decisions about its fleet in the Netherlands and upscale the company’s hydrogen-powered truck deployment. The Eindhoven project supports DHL Freight’s dedication to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and DHL Group’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as hydrogen continues to emerge as a viable option for medium- and long-haul transport.