The single truck will cover around 300km per day, collecting feasibility data on range, energy consumption, driver training, and comparison with diesel and electric alternatives.

The multinational transport and distribution major says the trial – across the provinces of Overjissel and Gelderland – comes as a broader effort to decarbonise. It is also trialling biofuels and battery electric vehicles.

European joint venture between TotalEnergies and Air Liquide, Teal Mobility – which is expanding a network of hydrogen refuelling stations across Europe – will supply fuel to the trial.

The Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell 6×2 truck is being leased through German transport-as-a-service company, Hylane. It has a range of 450km and can refuel in 15 minutes.

Ann Schildermans, TBO Manager at DHL, said rising diesel and electricity prices could turn hydrogen technology into “an attractive operating solution”.

The firm’s sustainability roadmap targets net-zero emissions by 2050.

Hurdles of transitioning to hydrogen-powered fleets include the limited and sparse nature of refuelling infrastructure, as well as high vehicle and fuel costs.

While mobility players are progressing in the sector, large-scale fleet rollouts remain to be seen.

EU green hydrogen usage mandates in the mobility sector require the energy carrier to meet 1.2% of transport energy by 2030 under the Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III). However, member states are struggling to transpose the rules into national laws amid competitiveness concerns.

The Netherlands had adopted a 1% green hydrogen mandate in transport, while imposing just 4% requirements on industrial use cases – far below 42% RED III mandate.