Akkodis and EKPO Move Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology into Real-World Heavy-Duty Logistics
Akkodis and EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies are taking hydrogen fuel cell technology beyond laboratory and test-bench environments with a new project focused on validating a high-performance fuel cell powertrain under real-world logistics conditions.
The partnership centers on EKPO’s NM20 fuel cell stack, which will be integrated into a hydrogen-powered truck and tested as part of a complete vehicle propulsion system. Akkodis is responsible for developing, integrating and assembling the full powertrain, creating a mobile platform that can generate operational data under the demanding conditions faced by heavy-duty transport.
Heavy-duty vehicles place particularly high demands on alternative propulsion systems. Unlike controlled laboratory testing, real-world operation exposes the powertrain to changing loads, gradients, braking events, temperature variations and different driving patterns. These conditions affect the interaction between the fuel cell, battery, high-voltage architecture, thermal management and vehicle control systems.
The hydrogen-powered truck is therefore intended to serve as both a demonstration vehicle and a development platform. Alongside conventional test-bench trials, the vehicle is expected to collect operational data during future deployment with a logistics company. This will allow the partners to evaluate how the NM20 stack performs when integrated into an actual heavy-duty vehicle and operating within a complete propulsion system.
Akkodis is handling the engineering work required to transform the individual fuel cell technology into an integrated powertrain. Its scope includes system architecture, component selection and design, high-voltage integration, control systems, operating strategies and thermal management. The company will also translate the operating concepts into electronic control unit software and manage hardware and software integration before commissioning the complete system.
EKPO provides the NM20 stack and its specialized fuel cell development expertise. The companies say the collaboration is intended to demonstrate how advanced fuel cell technology can be integrated into demanding commercial applications rather than evaluated solely as an individual component.
“Bringing fuel cell technology into real-world logistics operations is a complex integration challenge,” said Dr. Thomas Klukas, CEO of Akkodis Germany. He said the project combines technology, system architecture, hardware and software to create an integrated solution for heavy-duty transport and other potential applications.
The NM20 is EKPO’s most powerful fuel cell stack and was developed specifically for demanding heavy-duty applications. It can deliver up to 400 kW of output and has a stated service life of more than 25,000 operating hours.
For the demonstration truck, the partners are using a one-stack-one-system configuration. A single NM20 stack powers the vehicle, delivering a system output of up to 360 kW and efficiency of up to 61 percent. The configuration is designed to provide a direct assessment of the stack and associated systems under real vehicle operating conditions.
Dr. Stefan Dwenger, Managing Director of EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, said the NM20 was designed to provide high power and efficiency for heavy-duty applications. He added that operating the stack in the hydrogen-powered truck will generate data that can support further fuel cell development and the industrialization of hydrogen-powered powertrains.
The project could have implications beyond the individual demonstration vehicle. Data gathered during real-world operation can help engineers understand how high-output fuel cell systems behave when integrated with complex vehicle architectures and subjected to variable operating conditions.
Such information could support the development of future hydrogen powertrains for additional vehicle classes and commercial applications. The partners also see potential for applying the knowledge gained to stationary power generation, maritime transport and off-highway machinery.
The collaboration reflects a broader effort within the hydrogen mobility sector to move from component-level demonstrations toward fully integrated systems capable of meeting the reliability, efficiency and performance requirements of commercial operations. By combining EKPO’s fuel cell stack technology with Akkodis’ system integration and engineering capabilities, the companies aim to build a practical foundation for wider adoption of hydrogen-powered propulsion in heavy-duty transport and other industrial markets.
