Beiben and Refire Roll Out 300 kW Hydrogen Truck That Starts at -40 °C

Beiben Heavy Truck, together with Shanghai-based fuel cell specialist Re-Fire Technology (Refire), has unveiled a heavy-duty tractor that runs entirely on hydrogen. The vehicle, built around a 300-kilowatt fuel cell system, rolled off the production line in early July 2026 and has since completed China's official vehicle type approval. The launch further expands Beiben's line-up of high-power hydrogen trucks.

A powerful, high-efficiency system

The tractor is powered by a 300 kW fuel cell with a peak efficiency of 65.95%. That figure is high for this class and means relatively little hydrogen is needed to deliver strong pulling power. According to the manufacturer, the system scores well on power per kilogram and per litre, keeping it compact and light. Lower weight matters in heavy transport: the lighter the vehicle, the less energy is needed to get it moving and the more cargo it can carry.

Built for extreme cold

The most striking feature is its cold-weather performance. The truck achieves a rapid cold start at temperatures as low as -40.2 °C. To make that possible, Beiben combines four technologies:

• Self-heating of the fuel cell stack
• Directional water drainage in the balance-of-plant (BOP)
• A lighter thermal-mass system
• Waste-heat recovery from the air compressor

This makes the vehicle suitable for regions with harsh winters, such as Inner Mongolia, where the project was developed.

Smart switching between hydrogen and battery

The tractor uses a dual power source: the hydrogen fuel cell and a battery pack. An intelligent energy-management system plans consumption ahead of time and keeps both sources operating in their most efficient range as much as possible. The result combines clean, low-carbon driving with low running costs.

Zero emission for heavy duty

Alongside battery-electric, hydrogen is a full-fledged zero-emission mobility solution. In heavy, long-distance transport in particular — where high power and fast refuelling matter — the fuel cell offers clear advantages. The project also boosts the regional hydrogen industry in Inner Mongolia, linking suppliers and customers in a single chain and training new technical talent to build hydrogen vehicles.

Sources

• Fuel Cells Works – "Beiben Heavy Truck's 300kW Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tractor Officially Rolled Off the Production Line" (10 July 2026)
• H2-Mobile – "Pile 300 kW et démarrage à -40°... ce camion hydrogène chinois vise les climats extrêmes"
• Refire (Shanghai Re-Fire Technology) – company information