MAN hTGX wins 2025 Truck Innovation Award

October 18, 2024

The MAN hTGX, a heavy-duty truck powered by a hydrogen combustion engine, has won the 2025 Truck Innovation Award. The accolade, presented by the International Truck of the Year (IToY) jury, was awarded during the IAA Transportation Press Day in Hanover. This marks the third time MAN Truck & Bus has secured the Truck Innovation Award, following previous wins in 2019 and 2024.

Created by the IToY jury, the Truck Innovation Award honours excellence in advanced transport solutions. The jury consists of 25 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists from major trucking magazines across Europe and South Africa, including FOCUS editorial director Charleen Clarke. With a total of 84 votes, MAN’s hTGX outperformed strong competition, including Renault Trucks’ Oxygen – a prototype distribution truck – and Iveco’s S-eWay Fuel Cell (FCEV), a zero-emission electric long-distance vehicle.

During a road test in Saalfelden, Austria, IToY journalists commended the hTGX for its performance, which closely resembles that of a diesel engine. The truck’s driveability – enabled by MAN’s 16.8-litre H4576 in-line six spark ignition hydrogen engine – was a key factor in its success. The judges also highlighted the vehicle’s near-zero carbon footprint, its approximately 600-km range, and the simplified after-treatment system that contributes to operational efficiency.

MAN’s hydrogen tech evolution

The hTGX’s recognition in 2025 continues MAN Truck & Bus’s tradition of innovation in the transport industry. The company’s journey with hydrogen technology dates back several decades: MAN presented its first hydrogen-powered bus at the Hanover Fair in 1996, followed by several other hydrogen projects in subsequent years. Today, the MAN hTGX represents the culmination of years of research & development, offering a viable alternative to traditional diesel engines and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).

Frederik Zohm, executive board member for research & development at MAN Truck & Bus, expressed his satisfaction with the award, stating, “We are particularly pleased to receive the IToY jury’s award. With the hydrogen combustion truck MAN hTGX, we are offering a useful addition to our battery-electric vehicles, thus rounding off our zero-emission product portfolio for special markets and heavy-duty applications. By being classified as a ‘zero-emission vehicle’, the hTGX makes an important contribution to the decarbonisation of road freight transport.”

A strategic zero-emission addition

The MAN hTGX is set to be the first European truck with a hydrogen combustion engine to enter a small series production, with around 200 units expected to be delivered to customers in 2025. The truck will be available in selected markets, including Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland, and some non-European countries. The hTGX is designed for special applications, such as the transport of heavy goods in construction, tanker transport, and timber haulage, where it provides an environmentally friendly alternative to BEVs, especially in areas lacking sufficient charging infrastructure.

Friedrich Baumann, executive board member of MAN Truck & Bus, with responsibility for sales and customer solutions, elaborated on the vehicle’s strategic importance: “We are continuing to focus on battery-electric vehicles to decarbonise road freight transport. These currently have clear advantages over other drive concepts in terms of energy efficiency and operating and energy costs. However, trucks powered by hydrogen combustion engines are a useful addition for special applications and markets.”

The hTGX will be available in 6×2 and 6×4 axle configurations, supporting high payloads and a maximum range of up to 600km. The H45 hydrogen combustion engine is based on the proven D38 diesel engine and will be manufactured at MAN’s engine and battery plant in Nuremberg. This use of familiar technology allows MAN to introduce the hTGX to the market more quickly, providing a crucial impetus for the development of hydrogen infrastructure.

Technical specs and environmental impact

The MAN H4576 hydrogen combustion engine in the hTGX offers an output of 383kW (520hp) and a torque of 2,500Nm at 900 to 1,300r/min. The engine features direct injection of hydrogen, which ensures rapid power delivery.

The truck is equipped with hydrogen tanks that are pressurised to 700 bar and have a capacity of 56kg, enabling the vehicle to be refuelled in less than 15 minutes. With emissions of less than 1g of CO₂/tkm, the MAN hTGX meets the criteria for classification as a “zero-emission vehicle” under the European Union’s upcoming CO₂ legislation.

The advanced design of the MAN H4576 incorporates energy-dispersion belts and a zero-degree spiral belt to enhance fuel efficiency, reduce CO₂ emissions, and extend the vehicle’s durability. The simplified exhaust gas aftertreatment system further minimises nitrogen oxide emissions, ensuring compliance with EU Stage V and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) emission standards.

MAN’s vision for hydrogen

MAN’s commitment to hydrogen technology extends beyond the hTGX, as the company is also exploring the potential of hydrogen engines in other applications, including special vehicles, trains on non-electrifiable routes, and combined heat and power plants.

“Hydrogen combustion engines are a promising approach to accelerate the decarbonisation of off-road drives,” says Mikael Lindner, head of MAN Engines, emphasising the broader implications of hydrogen technology. “As soon as the market is ready, MAN Engines will offer tailor-made solutions.”