What a start to the HyWayOne Challenge! Yesterday morning, the MAN hTGX set off from Green Planet Pesse amid great interest, for a journey of approximately 3,800 kilometres through six European countries.

The first stop was at HAN University of Applied Sciences in Arnhem, where the truck completed a few laps. The route then continued towards Someren.

But the first day did not go entirely to plan. 😅 Just as the team was about to leave Someren for Roosendaal, the planned hydrogen refuelling station turned out to be unexpectedly out of service.

That is when you find out how things work in practice. Sander and Henk switched to Plan B, supported by the backup team at Green Planet, and drove to the H2 MOBILITY station in Düsseldorf. Refuelling there went smoothly using the H2 MOBILITY fuel card.

The journey then continued towards Luxembourg, where the team planned to refuel at TEAL in Bettembourg using the TEAL fuel card. However, the 700-bar pump there was not working.

This is exactly why we are driving HyWayOne. Not only to show that a hydrogen truck can cover long distances, but also to experience what happens along the way when plans have to change.

How flexible is the available infrastructure? What alternatives are there if a station fails? And how easy is it for a transport operator to refuel in different countries? These practical experiences can provide valuable insights for the further development of international hydrogen corridors.

Although several things did not go to plan, one thing became very clear today. There are many passionate professionals doing everything they can to make the impossible possible. People like Luc Haesaerts of H3 Luxembourg, who was still waiting at the Bettembourg station at 22:30 to welcome our team, arrange parking for the truck and take Sander and Henk to their hotel.

The people fuel the corridor!

And this was only day 1. Follow us over the coming days for more experiences along our route to Barcelona!

After the unexpected detour via Düsseldorf on day 1, day 2 also began with a challenge. The team had arrived in Luxembourg the previous evening, but refuelling at TEAL in Bettembourg had not worked. A second attempt did not solve the problem either. Over breakfast with Luc Haesaerts from TEAL, the cause became clear: the refuelling system could not support the protocol required by the MAN hTGX.

Fortunately, there was enough hydrogen on board to reach the next planned refuelling station: TEAL in Reims. But things did not go smoothly there either. First, the navigation led to an unnecessary detour of around 40 minutes. Then the refuelling station refused to cooperate. While colleagues in the Netherlands contacted TEAL and arranged technical support, the team kept trying on site.

And then, suddenly, it worked! 👏 The result: 33 kg of hydrogen refuelled in around 20 minutes. The MAN hTGX could continue to Lyon, where the team arrived around 21:30 after a long day. Thankfully, just in time for a well-earned evening meal!

What are we learning from day 2?

An available hydrogen station does not automatically mean that every hydrogen truck can refuel there without problems.

Alongside sufficient infrastructure, technical compatibility, reliable information and effective cooperation between everyone involved are essential.

And we saw plenty of that cooperation today. From TEAL to the colleagues researching alternatives and making contacts remotely to help the team move forward. This is exactly why we are driving HyWayOne: to discover what is already possible today and where work is still needed, rather than to present a perfect route.

Today brings the third stage: from Lyon to Barcelona. After another refuelling stop in Lyon, the MAN hTGX will head for Spain. If everything goes to plan, the truck will arrive in Barcelona this evening.

The valleys fuel the corridor. And with that, day 3 is under way! Go, go, go Sander and Henk!! 🙌 😎

From Green Planet Pesse to Barcelona in a hydrogen truck. We did it!

Wednesday 14 October brought the third stage: Lyon to Barcelona, around 670 kilometres. But before the MAN hTGX could leave for Spain, it needed more hydrogen. Once again, this proved a challenge. At the HYmpulsion station in Lyon, initial refuelling attempts failed. Both pumps were tried several times, but each time the process stopped almost immediately.

With only 48% hydrogen remaining in the tank, Barcelona was out of reach. Continuing to another station offered no certainty either. So the team stayed put while HYmpulsion technicians worked remotely to find a solution.

And then things started moving. Literally. The pressure rose: first 400 bar, then 520, 660 and eventually even 700 bar! Refuelling was interrupted again at 93%, but the truck now had enough hydrogen to reach Barcelona.

The challenge was not quite over. The refuelling connector had frozen, preventing the truck from leaving immediately. With telephone support from MAN Truck & Bus SE, that problem was resolved too.

The journey then continued through southern France towards Spain: along the Rhône, via the French Mediterranean coast and finally across the Spanish border. At 20:25, the long-awaited message from Henk arrived: “ARRIVED!” The MAN hTGX had reached Barcelona. On hydrogen. After three days of driving, unexpected detours, technical challenges and, above all, a great deal of perseverance.

What are we learning from day 3?

Infrastructure is already available in various locations. But a station designed for 700 bar does not automatically mean that a hydrogen truck can refuel there without problems.

Today also showed what becomes possible when people work together. Technicians adjusting protocols remotely, colleagues researching alternatives and a team that keeps looking for solutions. As Henk aptly put it along the way:

“Pioneering is PEOPLE’S WORK.”

And that is exactly what this challenge demonstrates. We are connecting not only Europe’s hydrogen regions, but also the people and organisations advancing hydrogen mobility.

A big compliment to Sander Bijkerk and Henk Slabbekoorn of the Province of Drenthe, to HYmpulsion and MAN for their technical support, and to all the partners and colleagues who helped along the way and behind the scenes.

Today, the BCN H2 Powered Mobility Event – H2 for Transport and Logistics takes place in Barcelona. There, we will share our initial experiences from the challenge and discuss the further development of hydrogen mobility and heavy-duty transport. Then the return journey to Pesse begins.

We have reached Barcelona. Now for the journey back! The valleys fuel the corridor.

After three days and more than 2,000 kilometres, the MAN hTGX hydrogen truck reached its destination on Wednesday evening: Barcelona! Yesterday, Thursday 15 October, the truck took centre stage at the BCN H2 Powered Mobility Event, organised by Hydrogenizing BCN. An important day for the HyWayOne Challenge. Because besides testing the European hydrogen corridor, this journey is also about connecting people, companies and regions that are working on the future of hydrogen mobility.

From practical experience to European cooperation

During the first part of the event, at Mercabarna, Henk Slabbekoorn and Sander Bijkerk shared their experiences of the past three days. What goes well when you drive a hydrogen truck across Europe? What challenges do you face when refuelling? And what is still needed to make international hydrogen transport possible on a larger scale?

Patrick Cnubben of Hydrogen Architects also took the floor. He explained the vision behind the HyWayOne Challenge: connecting European hydrogen regions and exploring in practice what that requires. The second part of the event focused on the HRS Butransa project, with attention to the development of hydrogen infrastructure and the opportunities for zero-emission logistics in Barcelona.

Bartje from Drenthe to Barcelona

Of course, Bartje could not be left out! Henk Slabbekoorn presented the Drenthe statuette to Clara Ferrer of the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), with whom we work together in European projects. And on behalf of AMB Barcelona, Clara also had some gifts for Drenthe, including 3 roses, a book and a special gift for the King’s Commissioner Agnes Mulder. A wonderful symbolic moment.

Because in the end, this challenge is not just about technology, but above all about cooperation.

Outside, the MAN hTGX attracted plenty of interest. Visitors could take a close look at the truck and even get behind the wheel themselves. Thanks to Jeffrey Dost for his great commitment in organising the event, and to Clara Ferrer, Sara Angrill and Anna Bellart for their involvement and support in Barcelona.

And then the return journey began…

After the event, Tineke Smegen took over from Henk as co-driver for Sander Bijkerk. The first challenge was not long in coming. At the hydrogen refuelling station in Barcelona, refuelling initially did not work. The team consulted, tested and searched for a solution.

In the end, a small black cap turned out to play an important role. Thanks to the input and help of Patrick Cnubben, the refuelling process could still be started. A small part, but a big difference!

On to Narbonne

The journey continued towards France, where the team stopped on Thursday evening at the Qair hydrogen refuelling station in Narbonne. Fortunately, refuelling went well there. About 20 kilograms of hydrogen were refuelled, after which the MAN hTGX could continue on its way towards Montpellier.

What do we take away from day 4?

The HyWayOne Challenge shows two sides of hydrogen mobility. In Barcelona, we saw the interest, the commitment and the international cooperation needed to further develop hydrogen transport. At the same time, on the road we experience how important reliable refuelling infrastructure and technical compatibility are. It is precisely this combination that makes this real-world test so valuable.

Thanks to everyone who contributed yesterday, both in Barcelona and on the road. We have reached Barcelona. Now let’s get back safely to Pesse!

After a successful event in Barcelona and the first kilometres of the return journey, Friday 16 October revolved around one important question: would the return journey go more smoothly than the outbound one? On Thursday in Barcelona, Tineke Smegen had taken over from Henk Slabbekoorn as Sander Bijkerk’s co-driver. That evening, Sander and Tineke drove together to Montpellier, where they spent the night.

On Friday morning they continued their journey from Montpellier towards Lyon, with Luxembourg as the next planned destination. In the end, the day finished in Metz, about 50 kilometres from the Luxembourg border. And although refuelling did not go entirely by itself today either, another important step was taken.

Back to Lyon: will it go better this time?

On Friday morning, Sander and Tineke set off from Montpellier towards Lyon. A familiar filling station was waiting for them there: HYmpulsion at Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport. On the outbound journey, the team had lost quite a lot of time here. Refuelling was difficult, technical adjustments were needed and, in the end, a frozen refuelling coupling also had to be freed. So the question was whether it would go better this time.

On arrival, the station turned out not to be ready for use straight away. A technician indicated that refuelling would be possible within about ten minutes. And indeed: a little later, the long-awaited message came from the cab. ‘It works!’

Almost 700 bar: a successful refuelling stop

The refuelling process started at a relatively low pressure, but then gradually increased.

Where several attempts and technical support were needed on the outbound journey, this time the team could keep on refuelling.

In the end, the installation reached a pressure of around 690 bar.

The full 700 bar was not reached. According to the explanation on site, this was due to the amount of hydrogen available at the filling station and the pressure difference with the truck’s tank. Still, the result was clear: the MAN hTGX could continue its journey. An important difference compared to the outbound journey and, once again, valuable practical experience.

On the way to Luxembourg, but driving times set the limit

After the refuelling stop in Lyon, the journey continued north, with Luxembourg as the next planned destination. Along the way, however, it became clear that Sander’s available driving time was not enough to still reach Luxembourg.

It was therefore decided to spend the night in Metz, France, about 50 kilometres from the Luxembourg border. After more than nine hours of driving, that was a logical moment to end the day.

Towards the evening, the team reported that the hydrogen tank was still just under half full. At that moment, the on-board computer indicated a remaining range of around 400 kilometres. A great achievement, especially given the long day on the road.

For Saturday, the choice is still open whether to refuel again in Luxembourg along the way, or for the MAN hTGX to drive straight on to Düsseldorf. The experiences of the outbound journey play an important role in this: refuelling in Bettembourg did not work then, while the refuelling stop at H2 MOBILITY in Düsseldorf went well.

The HyWayOne Challenge gets a follow-up

The experiences along the way are now also attracting attention beyond those directly involved. On Friday, Green Planet received an invitation to present the HyWayOne Challenge on 27 October at the Congres Zero-emissie Wegtransport 2026. A great opportunity to share the practical experiences of this journey with the transport sector.

Because that is exactly why this challenge was set up: not only to show that international heavy-duty transport on hydrogen is possible, but also to provide insight into what is needed to make it reliable and scalable in everyday practice.

Tomorrow: Düsseldorf and the final kilometres to the Netherlands

A special final stage is on the programme for Saturday. Edward Doorten of Green Planet and Bert Strijker will drive out to meet the team in Düsseldorf. A meeting is planned there with Mortimer Glinz, CEO of the Schmidt Kranz Group, which includes Maximator Hydrogen and FAST, among others.

Green Planet and the Schmidt Kranz Group have been working together for years on the development of hydrogen infrastructure. The meeting is therefore a fitting moment to reflect on the importance of long-term cooperation within the hydrogen chain.

Edward and Bert will then take over the wheel of the MAN hTGX. Sander and Tineke will drive the final kilometres in the Toyota Mirai. And so the HyWayOne Challenge is getting closer and closer to home.

What do we take away from day 5?

The return journey shows how valuable practical experience is. A filling station that caused considerable delays on the outbound journey could now be used without a lengthy interruption. At the same time, the differences between filling stations, filling pressures and technical systems remain points of attention.

The day-to-day reality of international transport also plays a role. Not only the availability of hydrogen, but also driving and rest times determine how a route actually unfolds.

After five days on the road, one thing is clear: technology takes us far, but cooperation, flexibility and practical experience make the difference.

Thanks to Sander and Tineke for another long day on the road, and to all partners who think along and provide support. Just one more stage to go!

After five intense days on the road, Saturday 17 October marked the start of the final stage of the HyWayOne Challenge. From Metz, the MAN hTGX hydrogen truck set course for the Netherlands, with two important stops along the way: refuelling in Luxembourg and a special meeting with SK Group in Düsseldorf. And at the end of the day? Everyone was back home in the Netherlands. After a week full of kilometres, challenges, encounters and unexpected turns, the international journey was complete.

Luxembourg: second attempt, successful this time

Sander Bijkerk was once again behind the wheel, with Tineke Smegen as co-driver. She had taken over from Henk Slabbekoorn in Barcelona on Thursday. After an overnight stay in Metz, about 50 kilometres from the Luxembourg border, Sander and Tineke set off for Bettembourg on Saturday morning. There they decided to make another attempt to refuel with hydrogen. On the outbound journey this had not worked, but this time things went better.

At 9:31 the message came in: “It works.”

Refuelling was slow, but with the help of the now familiar cap they managed to add about 11 kilograms of hydrogen. The tank was more than half full again and the on-board computer showed a range of around 470 kilometres. A welcome boost for the final kilometres towards Germany.

Düsseldorf: the last refuelling stop and a driver change

The next destination was Düsseldorf, where Sander and Tineke arrived around 13:30. At the H2 MOBILITY hydrogen station on Höherweg, the MAN hTGX was refuelled for the last time during the challenge. And it went well: another 34 kilograms of hydrogen went in, at 700 bar. That brought the tank to about 90 percent and gave the truck a range of around 850 kilometres.

Meanwhile, Edward Doorten and Bert Strijker had driven from Pesse to Düsseldorf in Edward’s Toyota Mirai. This is where the final driver change of the challenge took place. After thousands of kilometres behind the wheel, Sander and Tineke handed the MAN hTGX over to Edward and Bert, and got into the Mirai themselves to drive back to Pesse. For Sander and Tineke the journey was over; Edward and Bert took on the final stretch with the hydrogen truck.

A special meeting at FAST

Düsseldorf was more than a refuelling stop. It was also an opportunity to showcase the collaboration between Green Planet, Maximator Hydrogen, FAST and the SK Group. Green Planet has been working with Maximator Hydrogen, a supplier of hydrogen refuelling technology, for some time. Maximator is part of the Schmidt Kranz Group, which also includes FAST, a company that develops and builds electrolysers for hydrogen production.

Edward and Bert drove the MAN hTGX to the FAST electrolyser, where the truck was photographed together with the partners involved. Notably, a senior representative of the Glinz family, owners of the Schmidt Kranz Group, was also present. A fine moment to reflect on the collaboration between companies that each contribute their own expertise to the development of hydrogen technology and infrastructure.

“The people fuel the corridor”

On the way to the Netherlands, Edward and Bert looked back on their visit to Düsseldorf in a short video. Edward referred to a phrase that had come up earlier during the challenge: “The valley fills the corridor.” But he added something important: “The people fuel the corridor.” Because however important technology, vehicles and refuelling stations may be, in the end it is people who make cross-border collaboration actually happen.

Bert summed it up aptly: “It’s the people who make it, but together we really make the difference.” That idea ran like a common thread through the entire challenge, from the people who helped with refuelling along the way to the partners who offered support in different countries.

Behind the wheel of the MAN hTGX

For Edward and Bert, too, the final stage was a special experience. In the video, Bert talks enthusiastically about driving the hydrogen truck. He was very pleased with the MAN hTGX, both in the city and on the motorway. And Düsseldorf? The two got to know it extensively with the truck. Edward joked along the way that by now they had explored quite a few streets and even the city centre. But in the end, the destination of course lay further north: Pesse.

Everyone back home

After the meeting with SK Group and the final kilometres towards the Netherlands, the international journey of the HyWayOne Challenge came to an end on Saturday. A journey that began at Green Planet in Pesse, led via various European hydrogen stations to Barcelona, and showed along the way how much is already possible, but also which practical challenges still need to be overcome.

From refuelling stations that did not work straight away to unexpected delays, remote technical support and help from partners along the way: the HyWayOne Challenge was much more than a long drive with a hydrogen truck. It was a real-world trial that delivered valuable insights for the further development of international hydrogen transport. And on Saturday evening? Everyone was back home in the Netherlands, finally relaxing in front of the TV again.

The journey is over. The work goes on.

With the return of the MAN hTGX the journey ends, but not the HyWayOne Challenge. The collected trip data will be analysed by students of HAN University of Applied Sciences. With this, the partners involved aim to gain more insight into hydrogen consumption, refuelling infrastructure and the practical usability of hydrogen for international heavy-duty transport, among other things. This week’s experiences form an important basis for that.

The kilometres have been driven. Now it’s time to learn the lessons.