The Hydrogen Truck Problem Isn’t the Truck
26th February 2026
This post is about “real” hydrogen. Produced externally, at scale, using dedicated energy sources. Stored on the vehicle in high-pressure or cryogenic tanks. Consumed in a fuel cell that produces electricity to drive the wheels. No exhaust but water vapour.
This technology works. Hyundai has 165 XCIENT fuel cell trucks running commercially across Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Austria, with another 63 in North America. The European fleet hit 20 million kilometres in January 2026. They haul food, beverages, textiles, and construction materials. They refuel in 10-20 minutes. They carry meaningful payloads over real distances.
None of them operate in the UK. That fact alone tells you something about where the problem lies.
The truck is not the problem. The problem is everything around it.