Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks: Scania Launches Pilot in Switzerland

There’s a big moment brewing in Swiss logistics! Scania AB—the legendary Swedish truckmaker born in 1891 and now part of Volkswagen Group’s Traton crew—has kicked off a hands-on Scania hydrogen pilot for Hydrogen fuel cell trucks in Switzerland. Launched at Transport.CH 2025 in Bern on 12/11/2025, the project brings together climate-focused names: Emmi AG, Genossenschaft Migros Zürich, Gysin Tiefbau AG and TRAVECO Transporte AG. The plan? To see how these rigs handle real-world runs, dialing in performance, costs and the true potential of Zero-emission logistics on routes where batteries just don’t cut it. With Green hydrogen Switzerland buzz in the air, it’s a bold step toward Freight decarbonization.

Partnership for Hydrogen Innovation

In this Scania hydrogen pilot, the very first hydrogen-powered FCE trucks are hitting public roads alongside four powerhouse partners. Emmi AG, Switzerland’s top dairy producer, is hauling milk and cheese out of its Bern plant. Genossenschaft Migros Zürich, the retail titan, is loading up groceries for trips around Zürich. Heavy-lift specialist Gysin Tiefbau AG is moving construction kit in the Basel area, while TRAVECO Transporte AG weaves these trucks into its national freight network. Over the coming months, everyone’s tracking uptime, refuelling cycles, energy use and driver feedback—real-world intel that could steer Scania’s next commercial rollouts.

How Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Work

So, how do these Hydrogen fuel cell trucks actually work? They store hydrogen in tanks pressurized to 350–700 bar. Inside the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack, H₂ meets oxygen over a platinum catalyst, sparking an electrochemical reaction that generates electricity. That powers a quiet electric motor, giving instant torque—great for heavy loads. And instead of hours-long charging for battery electrics, these trucks refill in about 20 minutes and can cover over 500 km per tank. The only output? Clean water vapour, making them a real-world win for carbon-neutral transport.

Why Switzerland?

Switzerland is a no-brainer for this kind of test drive. With just under 9 million people and a GDP per head north of $90,000, it runs one of the slickest logistics networks on the planet. The country’s poured investments into alternative fuels, and firms like Agrola (partnering with TRAVECO) already have high-pressure hydrogen stations up and running. Tight emissions standards plus a national goal to field some 1,600 hydrogen trucks by 2025 give this pilot plenty of policy backing. That means Scania’s hydrogen fleet can tackle key corridors in Bern, Basel and Zürich, tapping into an ever-expanding Green hydrogen Switzerland ecosystem.

Historical Context: The Long Road to Hydrogen

Hydrogen fuel cells aren’t new—they’ve been in development for decades. Yet high costs, technical headaches and limited refuelling stations have slowed the roll-out. In 2022, Scania confirmed it would bring fuel cell trucks to Switzerland—a bold early bet on hydrogen innovation. Regional pilots in Asia and Europe have tested cargo vans and short-haul runs, but this Swiss trial steps it up by tackling true long-haul routes. With Switzerland aiming for 1,600 hydrogen trucks by the end of 2025, this Scania hydrogen pilot will reveal if FCEVs can match—or beat—diesel on reliability and cost.

Policy Push and Funding Mechanisms

Switzerland’s policy playbook has been a real game-changer for hydrogen. Between grants, tax breaks and public-private tie-ups, authorities have slashed the hurdles to launch pilots like this one. The Federal Office of Energy pitches in on refuelling station costs, and canton programs chip in on vehicle subsidies. On top of that, EU Horizon funds are up for grabs for European makers. That combo turns Switzerland into a prime testbed for FCEVs. Initiatives such as this Scania hydrogen pilot show just how smart policy blending can push Freight decarbonization into high gear.

Collateral Impact and Strategic Benefits

This pilot isn’t just about ditching tailpipe emissions. By proving out green hydrogen refuelling and supply chains, it could unlock fresh investment in renewable H₂ production—something Switzerland is ripe for thanks to its hydro and solar assets. Cutting GHG emissions also hits partners’ green targets: Emmi is aiming for a carbon-neutral fleet by 2035, Migros has its eyes on net-zero Scope 3 by 2050, and builders like Gysin are keen to shrink their footprint. The data rolling in will be a goldmine for policymakers, investors and any freight operator mulling FCEVs.

Kicking Infrastructure Challenges to the Curb

Of course, it’s not all sunshine—hydrogen supply and scaling up are big hurdles. Putting in a dense refuelling network demands hefty capital, and Green hydrogen Switzerland still costs more than traditional fuels. There are also technical puzzles around fuel cell stack lifespan and recycling precious platinum. But every kilometre these trucks log in Switzerland creates a feedback loop: spotting bottlenecks, fine-tuning supply chains and hashing out energy tariffs. Those live insights turn lab models into hard facts—vital for winning subsidies, luring private backers and driving hydrogen prices down.

Built for the Future: The Road Ahead

Battery electrics are still Scania’s go-to, but Hydrogen fuel cell trucks might take the wheel on routes where range and refuel speed count most. If the data plays out, Scania could build hybrids that pair batteries with fuel cells—or even launch dedicated hydrogen models. The plan is to crunch numbers through 2026 and let the Swiss trial guide the global game plan. Nail this, and we might see commercial hydrogen rigs roll out far beyond Europe—to North America, Asia and beyond.

Bottom Line: A Real-World Solution for Freight Decarbonization

Scania and its Swiss friends aren’t just talking about the energy transition—they’re out there driving it. This pilot goes beyond a flashy tech showcase; it’s a real-world proof of concept under genuine road stresses. The bottom line? If these Hydrogen fuel cell trucks hit their marks on efficiency, reliability and cost, they could change the game for global logistics and steer the freight industry toward a truly zero-emission logistics future.