DHL Freight has taken another decisive step toward zero-emission road freight. In January, their team in Eindhoven introduced its first hydrogen-powered truck into daily operations – marking a milestone in the terminal’s ambition to operate a fully diesel-free cartage fleet by 2026.
While the vehicle itself is an eye‑catcher, the true significance lies in what this pilot enables: real-world insights into how hydrogen can support scalable, sustainable road transport. The initiative was launched by the team of the DHL Freight terminal in Eindhoven as part of the company’s broader effort to decarbonize operations. Eindhoven’s ambitious goal: a fully diesel‑free cartage fleet for pick up and deliveries within this year.
To reach this target, the team is testing a range of clean technologies – including battery electric vehicles, biofuels, and now hydrogen. Unlike a controlled test environment, this hydrogen truck is being deployed in regular daily operations, providing valuable insights into how hydrogen performs under real commercial conditions.
“The hydrogen truck will provide us with important insights for decarbonizing our fleet. With rising diesel and electricity prices, this technology could become an attractive operating solution,” says Ann Schildermans, TBO Manager DHL Freight, who, together with colleague Cencio Vlijt, helped drive the project from concept to launch.