Hydrogen truck RYGG refuels at Fountain Fuel Amersfoort: what it looks like in practice

Hydrogen trucking is no longer a vision of the future — it is happening now, every day, at a filling station in Amersfoort. The RYGG, a 44-tonne fuel cell tractor designed for European long-haul routes, recently refuelled at Fountain Fuel Amersfoort. The RYGG team also spoke with station operator Justin van Schooneveld about what hydrogen refuelling looks like from the operator's perspective day in, day out.

What is the RYGG?

The RYGG is a 4x2 fuel cell tractor fully compatible with standard 13.6-metre trailers — no fleet reconfiguration required. The truck has a range of more than 450 kilometres and emits nothing but water vapour. It was purpose-built for European trunk routes: long distances, heavy loads, tight schedules.

That makes the RYGG relevant for a wide range of transport applications: temperature-controlled and ambient freight, tanker transport, port logistics and airport supply. The quiet electric drivetrain also offers advantages for night-time deliveries in urban areas.

Fountain Fuel Amersfoort: refuelled in 15 minutes

Fountain Fuel is one of the Dutch frontrunners in building a public hydrogen network. The Amersfoort station — the first Fountain Fuel opened — serves both passenger cars and trucks, offering refuelling at 350 and 700 bar. While a passenger car fills up in around five minutes, a heavy truck takes 15 to 20 minutes.

The message from the station team is clear: the process is simple and reliable. That is exactly what transport operators want to hear. It is not just about emissions reduction — operational predictability matters too. A truck that is fully refuelled in 15 minutes and can then cover 450 kilometres fits into a normal transport schedule.

Why hydrogen for heavy transport?

For vans on fixed urban routes, battery-electric is already a proven solution. But for heavy transport over longer distances, the picture changes. Batteries are heavy, charging takes time, and charging infrastructure along motorways is still limited. Hydrogen offers an alternative that is closer to diesel in terms of refuelling time and range — but without the emissions.

A heavy fuel cell truck emits only water vapour. When running on green hydrogen, the well-to-wheel CO2 emissions are close to zero. And because there is no heavy battery pack, the truck's payload capacity remains intact — a significant advantage compared to a comparable battery-electric vehicle.

From demonstration to daily use

The RYGG is currently touring European locations to give transport operators and logistics companies a chance to experience the truck. Test drives are available on request. That in itself is significant: the truck is no longer on a test track but driving real routes and refuelling at existing public hydrogen stations.

That Fountain Fuel Amersfoort is the right location for this is no coincidence. The station has previously hosted demonstrations of the MAN hTGX hydrogen combustion engine truck and is well established as a reliable and accessible refuelling point for heavy transport in the region.

The bigger picture

The RYGG at Fountain Fuel Amersfoort is a small but telling moment. It shows that the infrastructure is there, the truck is there, and daily use simply works. Those are exactly the three things that transport operators and shippers need to take the step towards hydrogen seriously.

With schemes like the Dutch SWiM subsidy — which covers up to 80% of the additional costs of a hydrogen truck — the business case is becoming ever more concrete. The question is no longer whether hydrogen plays a role in heavy transport. The question is when you get on board.

Sources:

• LinkedIn – RYGG H2Trucks (April 2026)

• RYGG – ryggtruck.com

• Fountain Fuel – fountainfuel.com

• Alles over Waterstof – MAN hTGX at Fountain Fuel Amersfoort (April 2024)