Daimler CEO backs hydrogen after 139K-mile fleet run
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- Daimler Truck AG completed over 225,000 km (~139,000 miles) with its fuel-cell trucks in real-world operations, a distance the company highlighted as a success
- Karin Rådström described hydrogen trucking as 'emotional' and 'inspiring' in a LinkedIn post, strongly endorsing the technology’s viability and economic potential
- Workhorse Group has logged over 20 million all-electric miles, surpassing Daimler’s hydrogen fleet by a factor of 100 based on current estimates
- Volvo electric semis have driven more than 100 million miles, creating a stark contrast with Daimler’s hydrogen progress despite similar timelines
- Electrek chose not to cover Daimler’s press release, criticizing the mileage figure as underwhelming compared to individual EVs and competitor fleets
Why it matters: Daimler’s hydrogen push gains executive-level promotion, but its 139,000-mile mark is dwarfed by competitors’ electric fleets—Workhorse by 150x and Volvo by over 700x—making the claim of viability harder to sustain amid measurable real-world gaps.
