German e-mobility specialist Quantron has signed a framework agreement with TMP Logistics Group for an order of up to 500 Class 8 trucks with fuel cell EV drive systems. The signing took place after the Hydrogen Americas Summit 2022 on October 12 at the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce. The event was supported by the German Embassy in Washington DC.

The vehicles, which will be operated via Quantron-as-a-Service (QaaS), are scheduled for delivery by 2024. It is also intended to integrate zero-emissions vehicles from third-party suppliers into the QaaS platform and offer zero-emissions solutions to customers on a per-mile basis based on total cost of ownership. Quantron is the preferred supplier of fuel cell EV-powered Class 8 trucks to TMP Logistics.

The QaaS option is said to offer a 360º ‘OEM-open’ ecosystem. In addition to battery and fuel cell EV vehicles and their corresponding customer care, it encompasses the associated infrastructure, from hydrogen generation to refuelling.

In the US alone, the demand for heavy-duty fuel cell trucks is estimated to reach 300,000 vehicles by 2030. That is said to translate into a growth potential for alternative powertrains with hydrogen and all-electric drives from around 2000 units this year to more than 35,000 in 2034.