Pilot project in Finland to test a battery–fuel cell hybrid truck on long-haul routes, supporting the EU’s objective of emission-free heavy road freight transport.
A pilot project exploring the potential of hydrogen and electricity to power heavy-duty long-haul transport will begin in Finland in late 2026. Led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the project features a high-tech hybrid truck that combines battery-electric propulsion with hydrogen fuel cells.
Manufactured by Sisu Auto, the SISU Escalate truck runs primarily on electricity, with hydrogen fuel cells serving as a supplementary power source to extend its operating capability on long-haul assignments. The truck will enter regular transport operations in late 2026, with its performance continuously monitored through vehicle data and a digital twin.
“We will collect data on the technology, energy consumption, and overall functionality and reliability of different solutions. The vehicle will drive 540 kilometres per day, during which we will monitor how much electricity and hydrogen it is using,” says Mikko Pihlatie, Research Professor at VTT.
The project brings together several Finnish partners. Sisu Auto manufactures the vehicle, IONCOR supplies the battery system, and Kempower provides the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) infrastructure. Hevtec is responsible for the vehicle-side charging solution and integration of the electric powertrain.
Jylhä Logistics will operate the truck between Vuosaari harbour in southern Finland and Jyväskylä in central Finland. The first, fully electric version of the vehicle was tested in spring 2026 by logistics company Rauanheimo.
Monitoring performance to identify areas for improvement
“By monitoring the truck for six months, we will gain data about the vehicle’s performance, the ways different factors such as weather conditions impact consumption, and what limitations may occur in the operation of the vehicle. This information will help us develop the charging station network and optimise energy consumption,” Pihlatie says.
The data collected will help the pilot team determine the most economical operating strategies for the hybrid truck. By analysing hydrogen prices and electricity charging costs, the team will be able to estimate how much energy should be replenished and at which locations. The findings will also be benchmarked against diesel-powered vehicles to assess the potential cost benefits of the hybrid configuration.
Finnish winter presents a demanding test
The truck will operate as an articulated vehicle and undertake regional distribution assignments in the Helsinki metropolitan area. It will use Finland’s first hydrogen refuelling station, located in Jyväskylä. Charging stations are available at both ends of the long-haul route, while a megawatt-scale charging station will be built along the route.
“A total of four trucks are piloted across Europe in this project, with different structures and power sources. SISU Escalate is the heaviest and longest of these. With its size and the difficult winter conditions in Finland, the operating environment of this truck is the most demanding of the four,” says Pihlatie.
The pilot will examine how zero-emission powertrains, charging infrastructure and hydrogen refuelling stations perform in vehicle configurations commonly used in Finland and Sweden. Both countries permit longer and heavier articulated vehicles weighing up to 76 tonnes, whereas the total mass of articulated trucks in other parts of Europe typically stands at around 40 tonnes. For this pilot, the gross combination weight is limited to 68 tonnes.
The truck is equipped with a 650 kWh battery and a fuel cell delivering a maximum power output of 120 kW as a secondary power source. The hydrogen tanks and battery pack necessitate a longer-than-usual chassis for a tractor unit.
High-tech platform for real-world validation
The pilot is part of the EU-funded ESCALATE project, which aims to demonstrate that zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles can operate reliably under real-world driving conditions.
“The SISU Escalate truck is not a product that will be launched in the market, but rather a means for testing the technology. With the learnings from the pilot, we can choose the best solutions for a product series developed for the market. The data will help us develop energy management systems and optimise driving with the battery to maximise the distance that can be driven with electricity. Hydrogen is, after all, the more expensive fuel,” says Petri Kananen, Head of Development at Sisu Auto.
“Battery technology is a key element in the electrification of traffic. The pilot is carried out with a highly demanding setup: the modular battery platform must function in a 76-tonne articulated vehicle, in harsh winter conditions, and on a long-haul route,” says Juuso Kelkka, Senior Manager of Technology Development at IONCOR. “With this truck, we can prove that a lithium-ion battery is a viable solution even in these conditions.”
