Dongfeng claims 1,700 km range from new 400 kW hydrogen truck

Chinese vehicle manufacturer Dongfeng Motor Corporation has unveiled a new 400 kW hydrogen fuel cell system, alongside a new truck cab. According to the manufacturer, the combination can offer a range of up to 1,700 km. The reveal took place on 20 May 2026 at an event in Wuhan, where Dongfeng presented several milestones in its hydrogen technology.

The figures at a glance

Installed in the 8.8-tonne T1 tractor unit, Dongfeng says the system offers:

• a range of up to 1,700 km on a single fill
• a refuelling time of just 15 minutes
• cold start capability at temperatures down to -40°C
• a designed lifespan of more than 30,000 hours
• consumption of just 7 kg of hydrogen per 100 km, measured in mountainous and flatland regions

The system is built around metal bipolar plates. Dongfeng reports that the fuel cell has passed a 10,000-hour endurance test under the new Chinese national standard – which the company calls a first for a domestically produced stack of this type. The truck also achieved European DEKRA safety certification.

Built for the long haul

The new 400 kW stack adds to Dongfeng's existing 70 kW and 150 kW platforms and is designed specifically for heavy trucks up to 49 tonnes. The accompanying T1 platform focuses on four areas: low energy consumption, low vehicle weight, fast refuelling and high safety. Dongfeng calls the T1 tractor a solid foundation for the large-scale, commercial operation of hydrogen trucks.

A note on the range

The 1,700 km range is impressive, but it is likely measured on China's CLTC test cycle. That cycle features more urban traffic and lower average speeds than Europe's WLTP cycle, which tends to make the figures more optimistic than real-world highway driving. So the numbers are best read as an indicative guide rather than a European type approval.

Hydrogen as an asset for heavy transport

The reveal strengthens the case for fuel cells in heavy-duty mobility. It is precisely on the heaviest, longest trips that hydrogen trucks play to their strengths: plenty of range, fast refuelling and a relatively light system, which leaves more weight available for payload. And the less weight a truck carries, the less energy it needs to keep moving.

Alongside battery-electric solutions, this project shows how hydrogen is developing as a zero-emission option for the most demanding applications. The move by Dongfeng – one of the world's largest carmakers – underlines that major players are fully committed to this route as well.

Sources:

• gasworld – gasworld.com
• electrive – electrive.com
• Interesting Engineering – interestingengineering.com
• Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) – news.metal.com
• China Hydrogen Bulletin – chinahydrogen.substack.com