The Future of Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Hydrogen- and Diesel-Powered Vehicles

May 20, 2026

Print This Article Share it With Friends

(National Geographic Italia (Google Translation)) Dual-Fuel is the project presented at the Transport and Logistics Show in Milan that aims to accelerate the introduction of hydrogen, combined with diesel, on heavy vehicles.

...

The project was presented at Transpotec Logitec, the transport and logistics trade show held from 13 to 16 May at Fiera Milano, which is the result of a collaboration between Ford Trucks International, Ford Trucks Italia, Ecomotive Solutions, Politecnico di Milano, LC3 Trasporti, SFBM and Greenture (a Snam Group company).

The goal, the promoters explain, is to "take a step forward toward the decarbonization of transport in Italy by developing and testing the first hydrogen adaptation solution on a heavy-duty vehicle, with the aim of commercializing a large-scale model and contributing to the construction of an ecologically and economically sustainable logistics system."

The program includes the launch and data collection of the first hydrogen refueling stations, starting with the Arquata Scrivia plant in the province of Alessandria. This step is considered essential for the planning and development of a localized refueling network throughout Italy.

Once H-Dual is fully operational, the first Dual-Fuel Diesel/H2 Truck will ensure that hydrogen contributes at least 30% of a fuel mix, before moving on to test advanced H2NG (Hydrogen + Biomethane) blends, thus offering high flexibility to existing vehicles.

"For Ford Trucks Italy, this project represents a concrete step toward the sustainable transformation of heavy-duty transportation. By supplying the vehicle and leveraging our technical expertise, we're supporting the development of Dual-Fuel, a pragmatic and readily applicable solution that enhances existing vehicles and accelerates emissions reduction," commented Ford Trucks Italy CEO Nicola Russo.

...

One of the historical barriers to the spread of alternative fuels is their safety within the vehicles that use them, as well as at service stations. SFBM and Greenture address this aspect in the Dual-Fuel partnership, supplying the high-pressure tanks and the refueling infrastructure, respectively, and conducting extensive component testing.

"The tests we conducted on steel cylinders, with the Polytechnic University of Milan and the University of Pisa, and coordinated by the CNR, have yielded positive results, certifying the safety of the hydrobiomethane blend with a hydrogen content of up to 60%," assures Marco Mele, sole director of Sfbm. READ MORE

Related articles

The H2 Dual Power is the world’s first hydrogen-powered tractor (H2 Dual Power)
H-Dual retrofit: hydrogen and HVO trucks for heavy-duty transport (NewsAuto)
The H-Dual project is born to reduce emissions from heavy vehicles (Il Tempo)
NASCE IL PROGETTO H-DUAL PER RIDURRE LE EMISSIONI DEI VEICOLI PESANTI (H-Dual)

Excerpt from NewsAuto: H-Dual is a dual-fuel technology developed to adapt existing industrial vehicles to run on hydrogen . The solution allows for the use of an energy mix of HVO and hydrogen , or HVO and hydrobiomethane , with the aim of progressively reducing CO2 emissions .

The project represents one of the first Italian trials dedicated to hydrogen retrofitting for heavy-duty trucks and aims, ultimately, at large-scale commercialization of the technology. In the initial phase, the system will ensure that at least 30% of the vehicle's energy mix comes from hydrogen, while advanced H2NG blends , i.e., hydrogen and biomethane, will subsequently be tested .

Ford F-Max L dual fuel HVO and hydrogen

The heart of the project is a Ford F-Max L , used as an experimental vehicle to test the H-Dual system under real-world operating conditions. The vehicle, exhibited in the Transpotec Logitec testing area, is already equipped with dual-fuel technology that combines HVO and hydrogen or HVO and hydrobiomethane.

...

The scientific support of the Energy Department of the Polytechnic University of Milan will also allow for a detailed analysis of the total cost of ownership of the vehicle, the energy efficiency and the environmental benefits of dual fuel technology.

Decarbonising heavy transport

The project aims not only to develop the technology, but also to evolve the regulatory framework and approval processes necessary to spread dual-fuel hydrogen systems on the European market.

"This partnership represents a new turning point for our company. Energy decarbonization is a challenge we face with determination on our daily roads ," comments Michele Ambrogi , Commercial Director of LC3 Trasporti. " The introduction of the test vehicle in real-world conditions demonstrates that collaboration along the entire supply chain is the only true driver of change. The time for waiting is over: we need flexible, viable options capable of reducing emissions, and the Dual-Fuel project responds precisely to this concrete need."

"For Ford Trucks Italia, it is a source of great satisfaction to contribute to this project, which represents a concrete step towards the sustainable transformation of heavy-duty transport. By supplying the vehicle and providing our technical expertise, we are supporting the development of Dual-Fuel, a pragmatic and immediately applicable solution that enhances existing vehicles and accelerates emissions reduction. In line with Ford Trucks' vision, we work every day to offer our customers concrete and accessible solutions, accompanying them on the path to more sustainable transport ," said Nicola Russo , CEO of Ford Trucks Italia.

"Ecomotive Solutions has always believed in the development of flexible fuel systems for internal combustion engines. Diesel Dual Fuel technology was developed by the company in 2009, with the aim of introducing LPG and methane to the heavy-duty transport sector, offering existing and newly registered vehicles a concrete opportunity to access alternative fuels, " says Giovanni Deregibus , CEO of Ecomotive Solutions. " Over time, this path has evolved from gaseous biomethane (BioCNG) to liquefied biomethane (BioLNG), and finally to hydrogen. In this context, together with the partners of the H-Dual project, we are conducting road trials on a Ford truck equipped with Ecomotive Solutions technology. The aim is to make hydrogen immediately usable, even in a blend with biomethane, on existing professional diesel vehicles. This is a strategic direction to support the decarbonization of heavy-duty transport towards solutions with a lower environmental impact, through a progressive and economically sustainable approach."

"SFBM has enthusiastically joined the project, which aims to offer a concrete and viable option for decarbonizing the heavy-duty transport sector. We believe it is necessary ," stated SFBM's Sole Director, Professor Marco Mele , " to propose a viable, immediately implementable, higher-performance, and less energy-intensive alternative to electric power, which, especially for heavy-duty vehicles, presents significant challenges. SFBM, as a state-owned company, has a duty to participate in the ecological transition, working, within its scope, in the interests of citizens and the environment, taking concrete action and setting aside ideologies that have so far proven ineffective."

“The use of advanced simulation models developed by our research group has allowed us to evaluate the potential advantages of H-Dual combustion, which guarantees a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 30%, while keeping both the original combustion system and polluting emissions virtually unchanged ,” says Tommaso Lucchini , professor of Internal Combustion Engines at the Polytechnic University of Milan. “ Upcoming investigations will aim to identify innovative combustion strategies capable of simultaneously increasing efficiency and further reducing emissions.” READ MORE