Keyou HICE.40 drives to Utrecht — 2,200 km on hydrogen with impressively low consumption

The Keyou HICE.40 is no longer a promise. The Munich-based company's 40-tonne hydrogen tractor unit is available, running with first customers, and recently made it to the Netherlands. On its way to the HyMobility event in Utrecht, the truck covered 2,200 kilometres — across five hydrogen filling stations, through Germany and into the Netherlands — averaging just 6.5 kg of H₂ per 100 kilometres. For a fully laden 40-tonne tractor, that is a remarkably low figure.

What is the HICE.40?

The HICE.40 is based on the Daimler Actros platform, fitted with a 12.8-litre hydrogen combustion engine producing 346 kW (470 hp). Keyou converts the existing diesel engine architecture for hydrogen operation — the truck's appearance barely changes. Running on 350-bar hydrogen tanks, the HICE.40 achieves a range of around 650 kilometres per fill. It is approved for 40-tonne gross vehicle weight and can be ADR-certified for the transport of hazardous goods.

No large upfront investment

Keyou does not sell the trucks outright. Instead, it offers them through a pay-per-use model, where fleet operators pay a fixed rate per kilometre — from €0.58/km — covering the vehicle, maintenance, service and insurance. The model lowers the barrier to entry without compromising on everyday usability.

The economics compare well against diesel. A conventional tractor costs around €0.33/km in vehicle costs, plus approximately €0.35/km in road tolls (Maut). Hydrogen trucks fall into the same toll category as electric vehicles, paying just €0.05/km from 2026 onwards. Over the vehicle's lifetime, that toll saving adds up to roughly €250,000.

First customers already on the road

Chemical haulier Grimmer Spezitrans, part of the Talke Group, is among the first buyers, integrating two HICE.40 trucks into its fleet in northern Germany in 2026. Keyou is also building a network of hydrogen supply partners — including green hydrogen producer GP JOULE — so customers can access hydrogen at negotiated preferential rates.

Why 350 bar — and why it works

Keyou deliberately chose 350-bar tanks over the higher-pressure 700-bar alternative. CEO Thomas Korn explains that 350-bar technology is cheaper due to lower complexity, and the supporting refuelling infrastructure is more mature in the heavy commercial vehicle sector. The Utrecht road trip proves the point: five different stations along the route, no issues.

Sources:

- BIGtruck.nl (10-04-2026): https://bigtruck.nl/nieuws/keyou-komt-met-40-tons-waterstof-trekker

- Keyou LinkedIn (2026): https://www.linkedin.com/company/keyou-inside

- Keyou press release (09-12-2024): https://www.keyou.de/news-and-blog/keyou-goes-heavy-duty-munich-hydrogen-pioneer-puts-40-ton-truck-on-the-road

- Motor Transport (29-04-2025): https://motortransport.co.uk/freightcarbonzero/german-haulier-grimmer-spezitrans-signs-up-for-two-keyou-hydrogen-combustion-powered-trucks