Truck Update Q1 2026

Elon Musk has never been good at delivering within promised timelines, but the delay of the Tesla Semi is pretty spectacular! The first demonstration runs were performed and extensively reported on back in 2022. At this rate it's Volvo and Daimler Trucks that seem like the dynamic startups.

So, without holding our breath, it does seem like 2026 is the year in which mass production will kick off. All of those customers who placed their orders last decade will probably be receiving their zero emission workhorses. They should be able to haul over 20 tonnes of goods over a distance of over 600 km in most conditions. Battery capacity is estimated at 900 kwh which is well above the 780 kwh and 620 kwh that the two competitors mentioned above are offering. Maybe it was worth the wait then?

With production and sales of electric trucks increasing, the focus is shifting to getting these monsters of the roads charged. It seems like Milence, the charging joint-venture of Volvo, MB and Traton will get some serious competition from a consortium built around German energy firm E.ON. They are looking to use European funding to roll out 330 Megawatt charging points across Europe's most important transport corridors.

Any investment in this area is welcome as I witnessed just last week on holiday in Austria. While I'm super happy when my car charges above 300 kw, hooking up a semi with over 500 kwh of battery capacity to a 350 kw Ionity charger is a serious test of patience. Especially as most car charging stations force the driver to unhook the trailer to properly get connected. And when you then gaze upon row upon row of parked trailer combinations you realize the scale of the challenge. Drive-through dedicated truck charging stops with Megawatt chargers that can replenish even the biggest truck batteries in less than an hour are simply a must-have.

For a long time I was convinced hydrogen solutions would play a bigger role in heavy transport than in the car and van world. But the last few years it seemed as if battery technology would also dominate trucking. Fully electric trucks have even gone into series production!

Daimler Truck however doesn't seem ready to bury hydrogen technology completely. The lure of over a thousand kilometers of range with only 10-15 minutes of refueling is just too powerful. To prove how far the technology has come the company is presenting its second generation NextGenH2 truck for customer trials. A few things stand out in this vehicle.

First of all Daimler is very open and honest that the hydrogen truck is fully enjoying the massive investment in electrification. Multiple components are borrowed from the eActros 600 to make sure the electricity that is produced by the fuel cells is used as efficiently as possible. From the aerodynamic cabin to the integrated e-axle and especially the 101 kwh LFP buffer battery, it is clear that the technology transfer is in full flow.

Buffer battery? Yes, this hydrogen truck is actually an electric one where the energy is not stored in a huge battery but in hydrogen tanks. The fuel cells, there are two, do not however power the wheels but supply electricity to the battery which then drives the vehicle forward. Having a big battery like that allows for the fuel cells to operate in their most optimal settings without having to cover the huge peaks in power that are typical for a big truck. It also makes sure that massive amounts of energy can be recuperated when the vehicle is slowing down or driving downhill.

Lastly it is also worth mentioning that Daimler Truck is fully betting on liquid hydrogen stored at -253 degrees Celsius instead of counting on mere compression. Far more energy dense, up to 85 kg of hydrogen can be stored in the tanks, it does create the distinct disadvantage of needing more specialized and expensive refueling hardware.

Japan is always an interesting country to keep your eye on. With a fast aging population it is dealing with problems that most of the world will someday be confronted with. The lack of able bodied workers also means that technological evolution can go from threat to savior overnight.

Seven Eleven for example is combining forces with a startup to test autonomous trucks on a key transport corridor between Tokyo and Osaka. The target is clear: get to fully autonomous operating vehicles that no longer need a human driver as soon as possible. The driver shortage in Japan is so acute the company is increasingly worried it will not be able to keep the shelves stocked due to logistics breakdowns.

Maybe they should get in touch with Aurora, the American self-driving freight innovator. They announced the opening of a second driverless route between Fort Worth to El Paso. This almost 1.000 km stretch through Texas is a real slog for trucking companies and a prime target to test Aurora's level 4 trucks. While there are still very frequently human observers on board, the entire route can be run without intervention. While driving through the empty heart of the Lonestar State is a far cry from navigating traffic in Japan, progress is clearly being made with leaps and bounds.