MAHLE and DEUTZ bet on hydrogen engines for commercial vehicles
Recently, automobile companies and engine developers have been exploring hydrogen solutions in order to meet critical climate goals. While electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles have significantly advanced these goals, industry is realizing that consumers need a variety of sustainable solutions which are both affordable and efficient in order to accelerate the process of reaching sustainable outcomes. The order comes from the German engine manufacturer DEUTZ, which planned to use the components in stationary hydrogen engines from the end of 2024. Further applications in the off-highway sector, such as agricultural and construction machinery, are planned. In September 2024, DEUTZ said it was one of the first engine makers in the world to start series production of a hydrogen combustion engine, with around 100 hydrogen-powered generator sets for a project in Beijing. Hydrogen technology has gained particular niche attention in heavy-duty vehicle projects. “We see hydrogen as an important building block for sustainable mobility, especially in the commercial vehicle sector. This project with DEUTZ is a milestone with a lighthouse effect because it shows that there are other technological levers besides electrification to achieve climate-neutrality,” said Arnd Franz, Chairman of the MAHLE Management Board and CEO.Stakeholders recognize the importance of diversifying alternative engine solutions
“To keep the world moving, we need different technology options. What a climate-neutral excavator or combine harvester will look like remains to be seen. For engines that are constantly in use and move large loads, several options are possible. One of them is the hydrogen engine. Our successful pilot projects demonstrate the potential in the commercial vehicle sector. With MAHLE, we now have a strong partner to help us enter series production of our hydrogen engines at the end of 2024,” said Dr. Sebastian C. Schulte, Chairman of the Management Board of DEUTZ. Both MAHLE and DEUTZ argue that electrification should not be the only route to climate neutrality and that several powertrain technologies are needed. Large scale commitment to implementing alternative fuel sources and developing infrastructure to support this vehicles needs to be undertaken by industry with the support of government intervention.Tesla has not announced a hydrogen car
Legendary electric automobile company Tesla has not announced a switch to hydrogen energy, despite claims that circulated online in 2024. Tesla was the first to pioneer large scale adoption of luxury electric vehicles by CEO Elon Musk. Fact-checkers rated claims that Tesla was developing a hydrogen fuel-cell car as false in late 2024, and Musk has long dismissed fuel cells for cars, calling them “extremely silly” in 2015. Hydrogen fuel-cell technology has been in the works since the 1800s. While technological advancements in this sector have made leaps and bounds in the past 20 years, the bigger problem is not the technology but its implementation. In order to support large-scale adoption of hydrogen fuel-cell technology, infrastructure will need to be developed to support charging and refueling of these vehicles. Hydrogen is still far from a mainstream choice for cars: SNE Research counted 12,866 fuel-cell vehicles sold worldwide in 2024 and 16,011 in 2025 (figures reported by Argus Media), while the IEA reports more than 17 million electric cars sold in 2024. The open question is whether the nation is ready to embrace the change. Implementing alternative fuel source vehicles is not just a responsibility on the automotive industry but requires total commitment from a variety of industry leaders. New infrastructure will need to be developed as well as legislation forcing the internal combustion engine out so as not to slow the process of developing new alternative fuel source models.First published on October 20, 2024; corrected on October 28, 2026 to remove inaccurate statements about MAHLE’s role, the DEUTZ order and Tesla’s plans.
