Hydrogen-powered rescue truck just smashed a world record, and it only spits out water

This impressive vehicle, developed by Cummins Accelera in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense, traveled an astounding 1,806 miles on a single tank of hydrogen.

The truck's performance was closely monitored by a Guinness World Records adjudicator, who ensured the integrity of the test by sealing the hydrogen tank before departure.

Impressive technology

By using hydrogen instead of gasoline, the H2Rescue truck saved a whopping 664 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions compared to a conventional truck of the same size covering the same distance. This showcases the potential of hydrogen-powered vehicles in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.

The H2Rescue truck isn't just about setting records. It's designed for real-world emergency response scenarios. The vehicle can provide 25 kilowatts of power from its fuel cells for up to 72 hours without refueling, which is sufficient to power multiple FEMA trailers during critical emergency operations.

Weighing 33,000 pounds, the truck is robustly built to carry essential supplies directly into disaster zones where infrastructure might be compromised. As an added innovative feature, the truck produces about a gallon of water per hour as a byproduct, which, while not a massive water source, represents a small but intriguing potential benefit in emergency situations where resources can be scarce.

The bigger picture

The DOE estimates that replacing traditional emergency response vehicles with H2Rescue trucks could save about 1,825 gallons of gasoline per year and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2.8 tons. This demonstrates the significant potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology in heavy-duty transportation and emergency response applications.

As we look to the future, hydrogen-powered trucks like the H2Rescue are paving the way for cleaner, more efficient transportation. With zero carbon emissions and impressive range capabilities, they're proving to be a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles, especially in sectors that are challenging to decarbonize.

Follow Kurt on his social channels

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

New from Kurt:

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.