Milestone at Hydrogen Dialogue: KEYOU hands over first 18t truck to pioneer customer EP Trans
At this year's Hydrogen Dialogue, KEYOU handed over the first 18-ton truck from its pioneer fleet to EP Trans in the presence of the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger. The logistics company from Regensburg, Bavaria, had already signed the first contract for one of the popular KEYOU-inside 18-ton trucks at transport logistic 2023, but the handover had been postponed several times due to delivery difficulties with a key component. The official commissioning of the vehicle, which will operate on a route in Bavaria for an international steel company, is now scheduled for early 2025 at the latest.
Vehicle assembly completed at Paul Nutzfahrzeuge, delivery to follow shortly
The integration work for the first pioneer vehicles was carried out by KEYOU's long-term partner Paul Nutzfahrzeuge in Vilshofen near Passau. The commercial vehicle experts were already responsible for the construction of the two KEYOU prototype vehicles - the 12-meter city bus and the 18-ton truck, which served as blueprint for the now completed pioneer vehicles. The 18-ton trucks, based on a Daimler Actros chassis and equipped with a converted 7.8-liter Deutz engine with KEYOU-inside system and a fully automatic transmission from Allison Transmission, were recently handed over to the Munich-based hydrogen experts. After some tests and final optimizations, the vehicle will soon receive its road approval.
The first vehicle was officially handed over to pioneering customer EP Trans at this year's Hydrogen Dialogue in Nuremberg. The delivery was originally scheduled for the end of 2023, but has been postponed several times due to delivery problems of a key component supplier. Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, Hubert Aiwanger, was on site to officially witness the handover and congratulate everyone involved on this important milestone.
Route of the first 18-tonner with a hydrogen engine leads through Bavaria
The KEYOU H2 truck is an important step in the decarbonization of EP Trans' truck fleet and the supply chain of its end customers. The planned route is still being finalized, but the logistics company is expected to operate the truck in Bavaria for an international steel company, benefiting from the many advantages of the technology. "It was clear to us from the start that electric trucks were out of the question for our purposes. At the same time, sustainability is an important issue for us and our customers. That's why KEYOU's technology and concept convinced us right from the start," says Markus Pumpf, Managing Director of EP Trans. "Being able to supply our customers with zero-emission vehicles without having to compromise on range or efficiency or having to put up with long charging times was something that had been unimaginable for us for a long time. The fact that KEYOU's offer also allows us to save on the CO2 toll and that the all-inclusive package means we don't have to worry about issues such as insurance or vehicle service and maintenance is an added bonus. The delays were of course a pity for us as well, but we are all the more pleased that we will soon be able to start," says Georg Ehrlinger, also Managing Director of EP Trans.
After the pioneer fleet comes the long haul: KEYOU begins sales of its 40-ton truck
The advantages of the hydrogen engine over other propulsion technologies become even more apparent over long distances and therefore in the heavy-duty segment. In order to fully exploit this potential, KEYOU has initiated a strategic realignment with its appearance at this year's IAA and, following the successful market launch of its pioneering 18-ton fleet, will focus entirely on the development and introduction of its 40-ton offering. The first Actros-based 40-ton trucks with KEYOU-inside hydrogen engines are expected to roll off the production line in 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. As with the 18-ton truck, hydrogen tanks with a pressure of 350 bar will be installed. It is expected that the planned tank volume will allow for a range of approximately 650 kilometers. The company announced the official sales start at the end of November with a limited sales offer.
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