Unimog implement carrier
Unimog WaVe
How do you reduce a heavyweight’s carbon footprint without compromising on its performance? The engineers at Daimler Truck are dealing with this question. To help shape a sustainable future, only climate-neutral commercial vehicles are to be offered in the global core markets of Europe, the USA and Japan by 2039. An exciting direction in terms of locally low-emission propulsion: hot hydrogen combustion. As part of the publicly funded pilot project "WaVe", Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks has developed a hydrogen-powered Unimog together with project partners. It was presented to the public at the demopark 2023 trade fair.
Hydrogen-powered Unimog as a climate-neutral commercial vehicle when in operation.
Multi-track into the future
In order to achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2039, Daimler Truck is pursuing a clear development strategy in the transformation towards CO2-neutral transport. In addition to converting to battery operation, the team at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth is also actively exploring the possibility of drastically reducing CO2 emissions by using hydrogen as the propulsion system
Highest standards.
The compactness of the implement carrier is one of its key advantages. Therefore, solutions had to be found that make optimal use of the limited available installation space – without abandoning the proven concept of various attachment and mounting spaces.
Moreover, the requirement to continue to guarantee the wide range of applications for which the Unimog is particularly valued by municipal service providers had to be met. This meant ensuring, on the one hand, the high payload and, on the other, the powerful performance needed to operate a variety of work implements.
Unlike other heavy transporters and tractors, a Unimog's field of operation is not limited to the road but also extends to partly rough terrain, where it is often exposed to heavy soiling from grass, dust or earth.
The WaVe project.
The aim of the joint project WaVe, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, is to develop a hydrogen-based powertrain for medium-duty commercial vehicles and to test it in field trials using various demonstrators.
At the core of the powertrain is an innovative hydrogen combustion engine, complemented by all system components required for its operation.
Project duration: mid 2021 – mid 2024
On the way to the commercial vehicle deployment.
An important milestone: on 17 March 2023 a prototype based on the Unimog implement carrier with a hydrogen engine and integrated exhaust aftertreatment rolled onto the test track. Developed as part of the WaVe project (WaVe meaning hydrogen combustion), which started in July 2021 and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as well as the European Union’s Next Generation EU programme.
It was a long road to get there. Because in order to make the Unimog fit for the future while preserving its uniqueness, a number of challenges had to be overcome.
“We want to show that an implement carrier with a hydrogen engine can be used in actual work operations.”
As a basis for the hydrogen combustion engine, Daimler Truck used a natural gas engine, known from the Mercedes-Benz Econic. This was supplemented by diesel and special hydrogen components. The Unimog has already passed its first test drive since commissioning in January – including at the development and test centre in Wörth.
The WaVe Unimog shown at demopark 2023 is a unique prototype to date. A Unimog U 430 with a medium wheelbase and short loading bed was chosen for this. The installation space thus gained provides room for the compressed-gas hydrogen tank system. The 12.4 kg of hydrogen on board the Unimog are stored at 700 bar and are delivered to the engine via an electric pressure regulator.
The experts have already taken on the project's next focus topic: "We want to show that the operational use of an implement carrier with a hydrogen engine works," explains Steffen Fertig, working in pre-development at Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks. His colleague Ulrich Isecke clarifies: "Our goal is to achieve an operational deployment of eight to ten hours."
This was already tested using the example of a mowing operation. In August 2023, the WaVe Unimog, equipped with a mowing attachment from Gerhard Drücker GmbH & Co. KG, was allowed to leave the Wörth plant for a test drive and head out onto the road.
In time, will the truck come?
Whether the Unimog with a hydrogen combustion engine will ever enter series production remains completely open today. With its broad product portfolio, however, Daimler Truck certainly offers a wide range of vehicle options for individual operational needs.
C02-saving, hydrogen-based powertrains can be the better solution for very flexible and demanding applications – particularly for vehicles like the Unimog, which as a work tool are subjected to hours of continuous load. Whether in the municipal context, in forestry and agriculture, in construction or in disaster response. However, where regular operation on predictable routes with suitable distances and charging opportunities is required, as is often the case in distribution and long-haul transport, battery-electric trucks can be the right choice.
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