Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Truck Sets New World Record: Over 1,800 Miles on One Fill
It’s Guinness World Record-official—the heavy-duty emergency response truck H2Rescue broke the record for the longest fuel cell vehicle journey without refueling.
Reaching over 1,800 miles on a single fill, the state-of-the-art truck surpassed the prior record by more than 600 miles. This distance is on par with equivalent diesel-fueled vehicle ranges.
The new world record is a noteworthy achievement for Accelera—the primary developer credited with the vehicle’s production—as well as for alternative fuel supporters and the greater sustainability movement.
Let’s break down how H2Rescue sent waves through the renewable energy sector with its record-breaking odyssey.
What Is the H2Rescue Truck?
The H2Rescue is a prototype Class 7 heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell truck designed to aid in disaster response efforts. Its development was a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), and Cummins, Inc. subsidiary Accelera.
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the DHS reported that H2Rescue is able “...to provide 25kW of export power to support emergency response operations for up to 72 hours without refueling.”
To put this in perspective: 25 kilowatts can power 20 average U.S. homes, a temporary shelter, a communications trailer, or any number of other applications.
The S&T continues, “With the increasing frequency of natural disasters, it is critical that we develop and leverage … green technologies that can be employed during disaster relief efforts and do not require fossil fuels...”
As a fuel cell vehicle, H2Rescue runs entirely on electricity produced by a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. As such, its only emissions are heat and water vapor, which S&T predicts could be productively repurposed in future models.
The Record-Setting Journey
H2Rescue’s groundbreaking trip began October 18, 2024—a warm and sunny Friday in Oakland, California.
Before embarking, a Guinness World Records official confirmed the hydrogen fuel tank was sealed. GWR would closely monitor the truck’s movements via GPS tracking to validate the distance traveled.
The innovative H2 truck was designed from a Kenworth T370 and weighed an estimated 33,000 pounds. It carried 175 kilograms of hydrogen to feed the fuel cell engine powering its 250-kilowatt traction motor.
H2Rescue had to travel at least 1,200 miles to achieve the world record. The development team was confident, though, setting an internal goal of at least 1,800 miles.
Intermittently over the next seven days, H2Rescue quietly circled the city of Oakland before touring Central California and then heading to Sacramento. The heavy-duty hydrogen truck’s average speed ranged from 50-55 mph as it traversed weather of 60-80 degrees (F).
On the last day of the journey, October 25, the crew set out for one last trip around Sacramento to push its mileage to 1,806 miles (2,906.47 km).
GWR Adjudicator Michael Empric announced the achievement, finalizing the new world record for the longest distance traveled by a hydrogen fuel cell truck without refueling.
Implications for Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles
Beyond setting a world record, H2Rescue’s journey meant progress for clean transportation.
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) face a similar range anxiety felt by battery electric vehicle (BEV) owners in earlier years. BEV range anxiety lessened as the technology improved and charging infrastructure spread (currently standing at around 200,000 stations nationwide).
H2Rescue’s 1,800-mile trip marks a huge leap in the progress needed for FCEVs to follow a similar route as their BEV counterparts. This achievement rivals the typical maximum range of a 300-gallon diesel tank vehicle. The long haul demonstrated hydrogen’s natural advantages, which hard-to-abate sectors hope will deliver efficient solutions where battery electrification alone isn’t enough.
To contextualize the environmental impact of the H2Rescue truck—which only produced water vapor throughout its journey—a standard fossil fuel engine would emit 664 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) over the same distance.
On an annual basis, H2Rescue could displace 1,825 gallons of fossil fuel and prevent 2.5 metric tons of GHG emissions. If manufactured on a larger scale, these benefits could multiply exponentially.
The fuel cell vehicle’s stunning success is evidence that hydrogen is worth further research, investment, and implementation. This technology could be applied to emergency services, heavy-duty transport, public transit, and more.
FASTECH’s Role in Supporting Hydrogen Innovation
A stronger network of hydrogen production and distribution infrastructure will be crucial to advancing its adoption. Refueling developments are just as important as automotive progress for hydrogen-powered vehicles to reach a broader market.
Hydrogen hubs are particularly innovative systems that provide integrated solutions for fuel production, storage, and distribution. They also serve as supply points for pipelines, allowing long-distance delivery to other hydrogen or power grid stations.
Private and public organizations interested in transitioning to hydrogen fuel sources should consult the clean energy experts at FASTECH.
With over 30 years of infrastructure engineering and construction experience, FASTECH is an end-to-end solutions provider for hydrogen production, storage, and distribution.
Reach out today for consultation on your transition to clean energy.
