Major freight and logistics player, Toll Group, has launched two hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks, powered by Ballard – marking a significant milestone in advancing lower-emissions freight solutions in Australia.
Delivered in partnership with Viva Energy and BlueScope Steel, the Taurus prime movers will transport steel products from BlueScope’s facility in Hastings to Geelong – an approximately 180km (112 miles) round trip – with the trucks operating as B-double combinations, meaning the 44-ton zero-emission vehicles will pull two connected semi-trailers simultaneously.
With an operational range of roughly 300km (187 miles) and taking just 20 minutes to refuel, the trucks are expected to reduce nearly 210 tons of CO₂ emissions each and will cut diesel consumption by around 80,000 liters per vehicle annually.
The vehicles will be supported by Viva Energy’s hydrogen refueling infrastructure, which has been in operation since June 2025 and provides round-the-clock hydrogen availability, as well as EV charging.
“Fuelled at Viva Energy Australia‘s Hydrogen Hub, Australia’s first 24/7 public hydrogen refuelling station, these vehicles represent an important step towards building the infrastructure and operational capability needed to support hydrogen-powered freight at scale,” a TOLL spokesperson said.
“Initially deployed to support steel deliveries from BlueScope‘s Hastings facility, the fleet will help demonstrate the role hydrogen can play in decarbonizing heavy haulage operations while providing valuable insights for the future of freight transport.
“This milestone reflects our shared commitment to innovation, collaboration and exploring practical pathways to a lower-emissions future.” [source: LinkedIN]
The hydrogen-powered vehicle is equipped with a 110kW engine based on Ballard fuel cell technology, while its stack adopts Ballard's FCgen®-LCS M2 series with a power density of 4.0kW/L.
The zero-emission truck is an inter-city freight carrier and provincial long-distance transportation solution, deriving power from the fuel cell which delivers up to 400kW of power.
The Taurus is the first Vehicle Type Approved (VTA) hydrogen fuel cell prime mover in Australia, having passed Australian Design Rule standards after extensive testing and consultation with domestic regulators – and offers a road-ready solution to the broader goals of transport and logistics companies in reaching carbon reduction targets in line with Australian legislation.