KEYOU and Bücker + Essing, part of the Elevion Group, enter into strategic partnership to convert engines to hydrogen operation
KEYOU, the Munich-based pioneer for hydrogen engines and "H2 Mobility as a Service" provider, and Bücker + Essing, a member of the Elevion Group and an international specialist for engine reconditioning based in Lingen (Ems) in Lower Saxony, have signed a letter of intent for the joint ramp-up of hydrogen combustion engines. The agreement initially covers the conversion of around 1,000 new diesel engines to hydrogen by the end of 2028 in order to accelerate the market ramp-up for hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles and thus the decarbonization of road freight transport. The conversion of the engines of existing vehicles in larger numbers is expected to begin from 2029.
KEYOU and The Bücker + Essing share a common conviction that the conversion of combustion engines will play a key role in the successful decarbonization of the commercial vehicle industry in the future. The two companies are already working together successfully on engine conversions for KEYOU’s 18t pioneer fleet. With the memorandum of understanding, the existing cooperation will further expanded. Both sides have agreed on concrete targets, which are also reflected in the respective business plans of the two companies.
Hydrogen power meets engine expertise: Working together for a Zero-Emission future
Bücker + Essing has many years of experience in converting combustion engines to gaseous fuels. The company already has the necessary capacity to realize the volumes planned by KEYOU in the coming years. More than 1,000 new engines are to be converted to hydrogen operation by the end of 2028. Retrofitting of existing vehicles is also planned from 2029. Together, these efforts will drive the market ramp-up of commercial vehicles with hydrogen engines.
"We are proud to support this innovation project with our many years of expertise in the conversion of diesel engines to gaseous fuels and thus make an important contribution to the decarbonization of heavy goods transportation," says Ralf Wöllert, Managing Director of Bücker +Essing. "The cooperation with KEYOU is an important step for us to further expand our knowledge lead in the field of hydrogen. We are convinced that hydrogen engines will play an important role in the technology mix of the future in the long term."
"Decarbonizing the transport industry is a key lever for achieving a climate-neutral future. As a pioneer and innovator in the field of holistic decarbonization solutions, we are focusing in particular on renewable energies such as hydrogen. This project shows how technological innovation and strong partnerships can successfully shape the transition of mobility," says Jaroslav Macek, CEO of Elevion Group.
Up to 5,000 conversions per year - KEYOU and Bücker +Essing pursue ambitious goals
The aim of the intensified cooperation is to retrofit more than 1,000 new engines by the end of 2028 as part of the series planned by KEYOU. From 2029, the retrofitting of used vehicles will begin in parallel with the new vehicle business. In the future, it is planned to retrofit around 5,000 engines per year from 2029.
"We have long relied on the comprehensive expertise of Bücker + Essing, which has already been a reliable partner for the engine conversion of our pioneering vehicles," explains Markus Schneider, COO at KEYOU. "In addition, in Bücker + Essing we have found exactly the pioneering spirit and pragmatism that we need to go full throttle right from the start and with which we are convinced that we will also achieve our scaling targets in the subsequent ramp-up phase," Schneider continues.
Sustainable long-distance transportation: sales launch of the KEYOU 40-ton truck
The advantages of the hydrogen engine over other drive technologies are particularly evident on long journeys and therefore in the heavy-duty segment. The first 40-ton trucks based on a Daimler Actros chassis with KEYOU-inside hydrogen engines are expected to roll off the production line as early as 2026. The model KEYOU is currently working on is based on a Daimler Actros with a 12.8-liter engine and will have an output of 346 kW. Like the 18-ton truck, it will be equipped with 350-bar hydrogen tanks. The targeted tank volume is expected to provide a range of around 650 kilometers. The company announced the official sales launch at the end of November with a time-limited sales offer.
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