European first: ADR-certified hydrogen truck hauls chemicals near Rotterdam

A European first: VERVAEKE, a specialist in tank transport for the chemical industry, is the first to deploy an ADR-certified hydrogen truck for transporting hazardous materials. The vehicle is a MAN hTGX, used in a pilot together with salt and chemicals producer Nobian in the Rotterdam region.

Why this matters

ADR is the European regulation for the safe transport of hazardous materials, such as caustic soda and hydrochloric acid. It is precisely in that heavy, strictly regulated segment that sustainable alternatives to diesel have been scarce. This truck fully complies with the ADR rules, proving that safety and zero-emission can go hand in hand. The pilot started in February 2026 and runs for three years.

The technology

The MAN hTGX runs on a hydrogen combustion engine (H2-ICE): hydrogen is burned in an adapted internal combustion engine, rather than converted into electricity via a fuel cell. The engine delivers 520 hp and 2,500 Nm of torque. The truck stores 56 kg of hydrogen at 700 bar, can be refuelled in under 15 minutes and offers a range of up to 600 km.

A major advantage for this type of work is weight. The hydrogen truck is more than 2,300 kg lighter than a comparable battery-electric version. That directly benefits payload, which matters greatly in tank transport. And less weight also means less energy needed to get the truck moving. Fast refuelling and a generous range make the truck suitable for demanding journeys.

The partners

The truck was configured and delivered with support from dealer and service partner Van Leeuwen Truckservice, which advised not only on the technology but also on matters such as subsidies. The purchase was supported by the Dutch SWiM hydrogen mobility subsidy scheme. For now, the pilot operates on routes around Rotterdam, but it may expand as the hydrogen refuelling network grows.

The impact

The truck is expected to cover around 100,000 kilometres a year, replacing a diesel truck. That yields an estimated saving of 88.5 tonnes of CO2 per 100,000 km. For Nobian, this fits its ambition to reduce the CO2 emissions of chemical transport.

MAN deliberately positions the hTGX as a specialist solution for applications where battery-electric trucks are less suitable or where charging infrastructure is lacking. Alongside battery-electric, this first shows how hydrogen can be a valuable, zero-emission route precisely in heavy, demanding transport.

Sources

• Nobian – nobian.com
• Motor Transport – motortransport.co.uk
• Fuel Cells Works – fuelcellsworks.com
• Bulk Distributor – bulk-distributor.com
• MAN Truck & Bus