The truck manufacturer said it was developing hydrogen ICE trucks that will use technology developed by Westport Fuel Systems, where a small amount of ignition fuel is injected with high pressure to enable compression ignition before hydrogen is added.

When powered by green hydrogen and using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as ignition fuel, Volvo has said the trucks would be categorised as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) under the new EU carbon dioxide (CO2) standards.

It comes after Volvo Group signed an agreement with Westport to set up a joint venture to commercialise the HPDI technology which allows diesel engine manufacturers to retain engine architecture while switching the fuel to gas.

With more than 6,000 Volvo trucks equipped with HPDI running on LNG already operating, H2 View was previously told by Westport that running hydrogen in an ICE improves power and torque by 15-20% compared to diesel.

Read more: Hydrogen ICEs will be ‘hard to beat’ in long-haul trucking says Westport Fuel Systems

“Trucks where the traditional ICE remains but runs on hydrogen will have the same performance and reliability as our diesel trucks, but with the added benefit of potentially Net Zero CO2 emissions well-to-wheel,” said Jan Hjelmgren, Head of Product Management and Quality at Volvo Trucks.

The hydrogen ICE platform would sit alongside Volvo’s electric and potential hydrogen fuel cell truck offerings, as the manufacturer looks to secure its zero-emission future.

Hjelmgren said it was “clear” several different types of technology are needed to decarbonise heavy transport.

“As a global truck manufacturer, we need to support our customers by offering a variety of decarbonisation solutions, and customers can choose their alternative based on transport assignment, available infrastructure and green energy prices,” he said.

Previously speaking to H2 View, Niklas Gustafsson, Head of Public Policy and Regulatory at Volvo Group, said, “We have a hard time seeing that it will be one solution all over the world. And this system transformation will probably not be the same all over either. Some parts will go for electric, and some others will go more for hydrogen. But we need to have technologies for both.”

Read more: H2Accelerate’s rapid plans for European hydrogen trucking