Hydrogen truck aces MOT

“This is a defining moment not just for Metier, but for the hydrogen sector as a whole,” James Budgett, managing director of Metier Technologies said in a statement. “For years, hydrogen has been discussed as a future solution. By putting an operational, road-legal vehicle on UK roads, we are demonstrating that the technology is here, it works, and it can be deployed at scale.”

The demonstrator vehicle, based on a DAF LF 18-ton lorry and fitted with Metier’s hydrogen internal combustion engine technology, has now received full road certification, including a V5 classification. This MOT milestone enables the vehicle to operate on public roads for the first time, allowing live demonstrations to fleet operators, regulators and policymakers.

“This is no longer theoretical,” said Budgett. “Having the vehicle on the road is a major step towards demonstrating that hydrogen internal combustion can deliver zero-emission performance in real operating conditions, with minimal reliance on subsidies.”

The current demonstrator operates at approximately 130kW, delivering performance suitable for urban and inner-city environments. Metier is targeting an increase to 170kW by August 2026, bringing the vehicle to full parity with its diesel equivalent for motorway and heavy load applications.

At full power output, the hydrogen powertrain is expected to match diesel performance while maintaining zero-emissions and enabling access to low and ultra-low emission zones.

Metier’s model is designed to deliver total cost of ownership (TCO) close to diesel by the end of the decade, supported by scaling hydrogen supply and government-backed fuel infrastructure.

Budgett said hydrogen internal combustion offers a single solution across inner-city and longer-distance operations, avoiding the payload, infrastructure, operational and range constraints associated with battery-electric alternatives. Metier’s approach addresses a long-standing barrier in the hydrogen economy where vehicle demand, fuel supply and infrastructure investment are interdependent.

Metier’s hydrogen internal combustion solution builds on proven diesel engine architecture, enabling rapid conversion of existing vehicles in two to three weeks. The company said it is targeting commercial deployment from 2027; capacity to convert at least 1,000 vehicles by 2028; and expansion to 10,000 vehicles delivered across Europe by 2031.

Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Manager Stephanie Haszczyn said:  “Metier’s achievement in bringing a hydrogen internal combustion truck through MOT and onto UK roads is an encouraging step forward for the decarbonisation of road freight.

“Logistics businesses need innovation like this in order to create a range of viable, scalable solutions to meet net zero targets, and technologies that can integrate with existing vehicle platforms and operations are particularly promising.

“However, wider adoption will depend on the development of accessible hydrogen infrastructure, clear regulatory support and cost competitiveness with diesel. Continued collaboration between industry and government will be essential to turn early demonstrations like this into a practical reality for fleets across the UK.”