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.
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.
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.
Photo of KEYOU
Press release https://tinyurl.com/yv7b4cr9
