By ATN Editorial Team
Summary: Cellcentric — the fuel cell joint venture of Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group — has released prototypes of the BZA375, its second-generation heavy-duty fuel cell system, for customer integration testing. The BZA375 delivers 375 kW continuous net power from a single unit under 500 kg, replacing the dual-system BZA150 architecture and fitting into installation spaces designed for a conventional 13-litre diesel engine.
Key engineering takeaway: Compared with the BZA150, the BZA375 achieves 20% lower fuel consumption (under 6 kg H₂/100 km in a 40-tonne truck), 40% higher power density, 40% less waste heat at 300 kW, and a 40% reduction in component count, with a rated service life of 25,000 hours. The single-system design is the critical engineering step: it removes the twin-system complexity that has constrained OEM integration and cost.
Why it matters: The move to a single-system, diesel-bay-compatible architecture materially reduces OEM integration cost and complexity. Cellcentric is positioning the BZA375 as a platform product for long-haul trucks, coaches, rail, mining and stationary power — not a bespoke solution for one vehicle type — enabling economies of scale that could meaningfully shift the TCO equation for hydrogen drivetrains.
cellcentric, the home of advanced heavy-duty fuel cell systems, officially launches its innovative, next-generation product under its official product name: BZA375. Previously known under the project name “NextGen” and unveiled at a dedicated cellcentric event at Hannover Messe (April 20–24, 2026), BZA375 is now ready to make its mark as a product that is available for testing, validation and further industrial scale-up across a broad range of heavy-duty applications.
As a Tier 1 supplier with full focus on heavy-duty trucks and similarly demanding applications, cellcentric addresses one of the key challenges in decarbonising transport with BZA375: making zero-emission drive technology genuinely competitive, durable and broadly applicable for the world’s most demanding applications.
BZA375 key performance figures
BZA375 illustrates how fuel cell systems can be optimised for the demands of heavy-duty trucks and further applications with comparable requirements. In less than three years, BZA375 was developed through a combination of innovative solutions, continuous improvement and a solid understanding of customer requirements. Developed to OEM performance and quality requirements, BZA375 is engineered to compete with modern diesel engines in demanding applications.
At the heart of the BZA375 development is a clear focus on optimising total cost of ownership (TCO) — the decisive factor influencing customers’ purchasing decisions in heavy-duty markets.
- Up to 375 kW continuous net power — more than 500 horsepower — out of a single-system package
- Less than 500 kg weight, allowing payload levels to be maintained at levels customers expect from proven diesel technology
- 20% less fuel consumption vs. the previous cellcentric fuel cell system BZA150, enabling a fully loaded 40-tonne truck to operate on less than 6 kg of hydrogen per 100 kilometres under real-world driving conditions
- 40% reduction of waste heat at 300 kW net power vs. BZA150, enabling significantly more compact and cost-effective cooling systems
- 40% higher power density vs. BZA150 — further facilitating integration into existing vehicle architectures, designed to fit into engine compartments originally developed for conventional 13-litre diesel engines
- 40% reduction in complexity vs. BZA150, thanks to a significant reduction in components and interfaces
“BZA375 is custom tailored for the needs of heavy-duty, long-haul trucks and an excellent fit in other applications with comparable requirements. At cellcentric, we are deliberately set up as an independent Tier 1 supplier and open to partnering with any OEMs that are driving the decarbonisation of their portfolios,” says Nicholas Loughlan, CTO of cellcentric.
BZA375’s single-system design enables the transition away from the “twin-system” approach so far applied for BZA150 in the heavy-duty truck target application. This design reduces complexity, enables easy incorporation into existing vehicle platforms designed for diesel powertrains, and allows for a more compact, cost-effective integration for cellcentric’s OEM customers.
All these advancements were achieved while maintaining the high durability level that already characterised BZA150: a service life of 25,000 hours — equivalent to a 10-year service life in a heavy-duty truck, comparable to modern diesel engines.
Prototype availability and broader applications
Prototype production of BZA375 has already begun. First prototypes have been undergoing rigorous performance and durability testing for months and are now available to cellcentric’s customers for their own testing and validation activities. Series production is being prepared for the turn of the decade.
With the launch of BZA375, cellcentric presents its fuel cell system not only as a solution for heavy-duty long-haul trucks. While primarily designed and optimised for heavy-duty long-haul trucks, the system is also suited for a broad range of further demanding use cases with comparable requirements: coaches, stationary power generation, rail and mining.
BZA375’s competitive specifications allow cellcentric to further pursue a one-product strategy by enabling the use of a single system across this wide range of applications, creating significant economies of scale and a sizeable potential for further cost reduction in fuel-cell technology.
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