Netherlands' Nobian launches hydrogen truck pilot for chemicals

As the chemical industry accelerates its transition to low-carbon operations, alternatives to diesel-powered transport remain limited, particularly for ADR-classified products such as caustic soda and hydrochloric acid. New technological developments now make it possible to deploy hydrogen-powered trucks for the safe transportation of essential chemicals.

In February 2026, Nobian and VERVAEKE started their collaboration on a hydrogen truck pilot to help remove an important barrier to deploy zero-emission trucks in ADR-classified chemical logistics.

Thanks to hydrogen’s long range, fast refueling, and lower vehicle weight compared to battery-electric options, the new hydrogen truck can safely and efficiently transport a wide range of Nobian’s large-volume essential chemicals. The pilot represents a meaningful step in reducing Nobian’s transport-related CO2 emissions.

Zero-emission transport

The three-year pilot will initially operate on routes around Rotterdam but may expand as the hydrogen refueling network grows. The truck is expected to drive around 100,000 kilometers per year, replacing a diesel truck and enabling an estimated reduction of 88.5 tons CO2 per 100,000 km. By co-developing this project, Nobian underscores its commitment to accelerating sustainable, low-emission logistics for chemical products.

“This hydrogen pilot aligns perfectly with our sustainability ambitions”, says Rein Hendriks, Director Business Planning at Nobian. “We are committed to taking decisive steps towards a future-proof, zero-emission logistics chain. With hydrogen infrastructure and technology advancing, there is significant potential for hydrogen as an enabler of safe low-emission transport of essential chemicals. This project illustrates how we work hard to Grow Greener Together with our partners.”

“At VERVAEKE, we believe that innovation and safety must go hand in hand, especially in chemical logistics”, says Frédéric Derumeaux, CEO of VERVAEKE. “Our collaboration with Nobian represents an important step toward cleaner, future-proof transport. Hydrogen provides clear advantages over electric trucks for long-distance operations. This pilot demonstrates that zero-emission logistics in liquid bulk transport is not only feasible, but a realistic alternative.”

For Nobian the hydrogen truck pilot is a logical step. The company previously supported the construction of the Ms. Antonie, the first inland vessel in the Netherlands designed to enable transport powered by green hydrogen. The vessel is intended to transport salt without CO2 emissions and was developed with partners, including Nedstack, Lenten Scheepvaart, Concordia Damen and NPRC.

Together, these projects mark important milestones in scaling hydrogen-powered logistics, and they reflect with Nobian’s ongoing efforts to advance low-emission transport.

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ALCHEMPro News Desk (JP)