Volvo announces world's first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell articulated hauler prototype

In 1966, the world's first articulated truck, the Gravel Charlie, landed at the Volvo Construction Equipment plant in Sweden. Now, 56 years later, the world's first prototype of a zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell articulated hauler - the Volvo HX04 - has been launched at the same plant, according to Volvo officials.

The fuel cell in the HX04 powers the truck by combining hydrogen with oxygen to create a chemical reaction and generate electricity, Volvo said. Water vapor is the only emission product during the truck's operation.

Data shows that the current Volvo HX04 model can be filled with 12 kg of hydrogen in about 7.5 minutes and can run for about four hours.

The Volvo HX04 is the result of a research project carried out by Volvo Construction Equipment from 2018 to 2022, funded by the Swedish national cooperation program FFI, to support strategic research, innovation and development of energy sustainable vehicles.

Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of the Volvo Group, said that in the future, battery-electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and vehicles with other renewable energy sources will be the main vehicles for global transportation.