Scania has added hydrogen fuel cell trucks to its Pilot Partner testing programme, working with long-standing customer Asko Norge AS to understand how the technology performs in daily operations.
The trucks are not yet available to order, but they are now running in Asko’s fleet as part of Scania’s wider effort to evaluate different zero-emission powertrains alongside its core focus on battery-electric vehicles.
The trials were shown publicly at Transport.CH in Bern earlier this month, where Scania outlined how the Pilot Partner initiative is being used to gather practical data from commercial use cases rather than controlled test environments.
Testing hydrogen alongside battery-electric
Scania says the addition of hydrogen fuel cell prototypes does not change its overall decarbonisation strategy, which remains centred on direct electrification.
Even so, the company is using the programme to understand how alternative energy carriers perform in sectors where long distances, cold climates or payload demands can complicate battery-only solutions.
The trucks being tested with Asko combine Scania’s existing electric powertrain with a hydrogen fuel cell system. Early findings from the partnership suggest potential driving ranges of up to around 1,000 kilometres per refuelling, with only water vapour emitted at the tailpipe, though the firm stresses these are still development vehicles.
Customer-led learning
The Pilot Partner programme, launched in 2021, pairs Scania with selected operators who run pre-commercial vehicles in normal working conditions. The goal is to gather insight on performance, service requirements, and real-world operational feasibility across different technologies.
Tony Sandberg, Head of Scania Pilot Partner, said the programme is designed to identify what works outside controlled tests: “By testing in real transport environments, we learn what works best in practice and how to accelerate progress.”
Asko, which has been working with Scania on various low-emission projects for several years, said the trials help shape technologies before they reach series production. “Being part of Scania’s Pilot Partner initiative gives us a unique opportunity to test and influence the development of sustainable solutions that fit our operations,” said Jørn Arvid Endresen, CEO of ASKO Midt.
Evaluating options for different use cases
While battery-electric trucks remain the backbone of Scania’s product strategy, the company is also assessing range extenders, combustion engines running on alternative fuels, and now hydrogen fuel cell systems. The firm frames the programme as a way to gather evidence rather than back specific technologies, with findings used to refine products and guide customer deployment.
Scania says the insights gained across city distribution, regional haulage and long-distance routes will inform future vehicle development and help operators understand total cost of ownership at scale.
