According to its own statements, Hylane is taking the next step to better meet customer needs and further expand its position as an emissions-free commercial vehicle rental company in Europe.
The company is augmenting its fleet with battery-electric trucks – the first vehicles are expected to be available to interested customers by 2025. The rental vehicles will include, for example, the eActros 600 from Daimler Truck.
The trucks are to be provided under the same rental model as Hylane's fuel cell-powered trucks, it is said. Additionally, they intend to support customers in their usage and are therefore working on partnerships with charging park operators.
“From the beginning, we have seen that our customers rely on various technologies to decarbonize their fleets. With a technology-open portfolio, we can support them holistically and individually in the transformation. That is why
we are now expanding our emissions-free truck fleet with battery-electric vehicles,” states Hylane Managing Director Sara Schiffer.
Technology-Open Approach
According to the company's sustainability goals, they aim to take the next step towards the decarbonization of road freight transport. The expansion with another emissions-free propulsion technology should be viewed as a strategic addition rather than a departure from hydrogen.
According to Hylane, both technologies are needed to achieve climate goals in heavy-duty transport. Battery-electric and fuel cell electric trucks each have specific strengths in different operational scenarios. This is also reflected in the increasingly diversified offerings from vehicle manufacturers.
In line with a technology-open approach, they aim to provide customers with maximum flexibility through the combination of both types of propulsion – and offer advice on optimal vehicle usage.
“The decision to expand our activities fits with the
clearly defined goals of the new federal government to decarbonize the transport sector: special funds for infrastructure, explicit mention of hydrogen as a future technology for the transport sector in the coalition agreement, extension of toll exemption for emissions-free trucks,” explains Hylane Managing Director Bernd Zens.
Depending on the Purpose
According to the commercial vehicle rental company, a variety of drives is needed to meet the different requirements for range, charging times, and operational profiles and to be able to supply energy to more than eight million medium and heavy-duty trucks in Europe in the medium term.
Maximilian Draxler, Head of Finance at Hylane, speaks of an “optimal match between vehicle technology and individual operational scenario” that needs to be found, which should contribute to increased efficiency and optimization of total costs.
Rental Model
The rental model offered
by Hylane for battery- and hydrogen-powered vehicles is usage-based: Tenants pay only for the kilometers driven accordingly.
The lessor takes care of vehicle procurement and registration, maintenance and repair, insurance, as well as access to energy supply – and handles the management of regulatory requirements and certified proof of achieved CO₂ savings. In the rental model, Hylane bears the investment, residual, and technology risk of the trucks.
Vehicle Portfolio
According to the information provided, the Hylane fleet currently comprises over 100 emissions-free vehicles with hydrogen propulsion – trucks and tractor units, for example, from Hyundai and Iveco.
In the coming months, more H2 trucks and the first BEVs are to follow – for example, 30 eActros 600 from Daimler Truck for DHL. Rental vehicles from the provider are also being used by companies such as DB Schenker/DSV, Hermes,
