© KEYOU

Energy supplier GP Joule and hydrogen engine specialist KEYOU have launched a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating zero-emission transport in Germany’s heavy-duty trucking sector. The two companies are offering logistics firms a bundled package of 40-ton hydrogen trucks and green hydrogen refueling services, including maintenance and roadside assistance, under a rental model.

KEYOU’s trucks, built on the Daimler Actros platform, run on hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE) and emit no CO₂ at the tailpipe. The first 18-ton truck from a pilot series has already been delivered to EP Trans in Regensburg. Sales began in late 2024, with a full market rollout expected by 2026.

The vehicles are part of an “H2 Mobility as a Service” offer designed to lower the entry barrier for operators hesitant to invest in new technologies and infrastructure. The package includes 24/7 service support and optional insurance.

Refueling Backed by Renewable Hydrogen

GP Joule, responsible for fuel and infrastructure, has already opened hydrogen refueling stations in North Friesland and Bremerhaven. Additional sites in Kiel and Waiblingen are under construction. All stations are supplied with green hydrogen produced via electrolysis using renewable power.

“As an integrated energy provider, we can offer companies a regional and practical way to convert their fleets,” said Benjamin Jödecke, Head of Mobility at GP Joule Hydrogen. “For the heavy-duty transportation sector in particular, mobility with green hydrogen is a perfect complement to battery-electric mobility.”

Addressing the Infrastructure Gap

The partnership is positioned as a direct response to the long-standing “chicken-and-egg” issue in hydrogen mobility, where lack of infrastructure hinders vehicle adoption and vice versa.

“Only with a combination of everyday-use vehicles and the corresponding infrastructure can hydrogen mobility – and thus our technology – develop its full potential,” said Pedro Bravo, Chief Sales Officer at KEYOU. “Our collaboration with GP Joule is a significant step in solving the chicken-and-egg problem.”

Both companies plan to expand their offering over the next 18 months, targeting selected regions of Germany. The strategy includes simultaneous growth in vehicle availability and hydrogen refueling capacity, with the goal of building a predictable and low-risk path for logistics operators to transition away from fossil fuels.