The initiative is enabled by the “hydrogen in mobility” subsidy scheme (Subsidieregeling Waterstof in Mobiliteit, or “SWiM”), which is offering a total of EUR40m to applicants next year.

The EUR3m investment into Zepp has come from an “energy transition” fund provided by the City of Rotterdam and an unnamed private investor who is “deeply embedded in the Rotterdam tech scene”.

The planned factory will be built in the Rijnmond region of the Netherlands before 2026 and will allow the Dutch startup to scale up production of its fuel cell systems to 1,000 units annually.

The 4x2 tractor unit, dubbed ‘Europa’, is powered by a single ‘X150’ fuel cell module designed and made by Zepp.solutions, giving it a range of over 700 kilometres.

The Dutch start-up showcased the ‘X150’ fuel cell system, a 150-kW power module which integrates the fuel cell stack, power electronics, air and cooling subsystems and safety systems in one box.

The Dutch manufacturer is trialling a fuel-cell electric terminal tractor, developed together with Zepp.solutions, in Delft.