At this year's IAA Transportation, the Munich-based pioneer for hydrogen engines and “H2 Mobility as a Service” provider KEYOU presented two tractor units for the first time under the motto “KEYOU goes Heavy Duty”. Following the successful market launch of its 18t truck pioneer fleet, the company will put the 40t truck with KEYOU-inside hydrogen engine based on the Daimler Actros shown at IAA on the road in 2026, thus driving forward the sustainable and economical decarbonization of heavy-duty transportation. KEYOU has now announced the official sales launch and is going on the offensive with an unrivaled offer.
Short refueling times and long ranges combined with high cost efficiency: the list of advantages of trucks with robust hydrogen engines could go on and on. Particularly in long-distance transportation, the technology can fully unfold its strengths compared to other alternative propulsion technologies and represents a serious alternative to the proven diesel. In order to fully exploit this potential in the heavy-duty segment, KEYOU has initiated a strategic realignment with its appearance at this year's IAA and will focus exclusively on the development and launch of its 40-ton offering, following the successful market launch of its 18-ton pioneer fleet. The first Actros-based 40-ton trucks with KEYOU-inside hydrogen engines will roll off the production line in early 2026.
Up to 650 kilometers of range and 346 kW of power packed into an all-around carefree package
The model KEYOU will launch in 2026 is based on a Daimler Actros with a 12.8-liter engine. It will be equipped with 350 bar hydrogen tanks, which will allow a range of around 650 kilometers. "The decision to use 350 bar instead of 700 bar for the market launch has several strategic reasons," explains Thomas Korn, CEO at KEYOU. "Firstly, the technology is simply cheaper than 700 bar tanks due to its lower complexity, which allows us to offer our customers an even more attractive price. Secondly, the much more advanced development of the 350-bar infrastructure in the commercial vehicle sector also played an important role in our decision," Korn continues.
To make the transition to the new technology as easy, predictable and risk-free as possible for customers, KEYOU offers an all-around carefree mobility solution that includes the vehicle, comprehensive insurance coverage and a comprehensive service and maintenance package. Customers pay an agreed price per kilometer based on annual mileage, which includes all services. The aim is to ensure that customers receive everything they need for the smooth operation of their hydrogen vehicle from a single source.
Innovation meets economy: KEYOU Truck "ALL-INCLUSIVE" starts from € 0.58 / km
To mark the official start of sales, the Munich-based scale-up is now going on the offensive, with the diesel truck as the price benchmark. "If they drive the usual number of kilometers with the truck over the years, fleet operators will save around €250,000 in toll fees. That means they get our CO2-free truck virtually for free if they want to buy the vehicle," Korn continues. KEYOU is entering the race with a pay-per-use model, where fleet operators rent the vehicle and pay a flat rate per kilometer based on annual mileage. For a limited time, quick decision makers can now benefit from a particularly attractive price per kilometer. "From just €0.58 per kilometer, we offer our customers not only our hydrogen truck, but also our comprehensive service and maintenance package and insurance," adds Pedro Bravo, CSO at KEYOU. A look at the TCO shows that the pure vehicle, service and maintenance costs are on a par with diesel. This is because diesel adds about €0.35/km in tolls to the vehicle cost of about €0.33/km, while the KEYOU H2 truck will only pay about €0.05/km in tolls from 2026. The only drawback is that hydrogen prices at filling stations are currently still too high. But KEYOU has a solution for that, too: "We are currently expanding our network of hydrogen producers and filling station operators. In this way, we ensure that our customers can obtain hydrogen at special conditions that we have negotiated with our partners," concludes Bravo.
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