A pilot project led by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has introduced a high-tech hybrid truck combining electric mobility and hydrogen fuel cells
The SISU Escalate truck, manufactured by Sisu Auto, primarily runs on electricity, with hydrogen fuel cells serving as an alternative power source for quick charging on long-haul assignments. The truck will begin normal transport operations in late 2026, and its journey will be continuously monitored through vehicle data and a digital twin.
Mikko Pihlatie, research professor at VTT, said, “We will collect data on the technology, energy consumption, and overall functionality and reliability of different solutions. The vehicle will drive 540 kilometres per day, during which we will monitor how much electricity and hydrogen it is using.”
Several Finnish partners are involved in the project: Sisu Auto manufactures the vehicle, IONCOR provides the battery system, Kempower supplies the MCS charging infrastructure, and Hevtec is responsible for the vehicle-side charging solution and integrating the electric powertrain.
Jylhä Logistics will operate the truck between Vuosaari harbour in southern Finland and the city of Jyväskylä in central Finland. Logistics company Rauanheimo tested the vehicle’s first full-electric version in spring 2026.
Monitoring reveals development areas
Pihlatie said, “By monitoring the truck for six months, we will gain data about the vehicle’s performance, the ways different factors such as weather conditions impact consumption, and what limitations may occur in the operation of the vehicle. This information will help us develop the charging station network and optimise energy consumption.”
The data will enable the pilot team to calculate the most economical ways to drive this kind of hybrid vehicle. Price data on hydrogen fuel and charging will help the team estimate how much energy to load and where. The data is benchmarked against diesel-powered vehicles to assess cost benefits.
Finnish winter
The truck will operate as an articulated vehicle and also take on regional distribution assignments in the Helsinki metropolitan area. It will use Finland’s first hydrogen fuel station, built in Jyväskylä. Charging stations are at both ends of the long-haul route, and a megawatt-scale charging station will be built along it.
Pihlatie said, “A total of four trucks are piloted across Europe in this project, with different structures and power sources. SISU Escalate is the heaviest and longest of these. With its size and the difficult winter conditions in Finland, the operating environment of this truck is the most demanding of the four.”
The vehicle will explore how zero-emission powertrains and charging and fuel stations perform in vehicle configurations used in Finland and Sweden. The two countries use longer and heavier articulated vehicles weighing up to 76 tonnes, whereas in other parts of Europe, the total mass of articulated trucks is around 40 tonnes. In this pilot, the gross vehicle combination weight is limited to 68 tonnes.
The truck includes a 650 kWh battery and, as a secondary power source, a fuel cell with a maximum power of 120 kW. Due to the hydrogen tanks and battery pack, the chassis is longer than usual for tractor units.
Truck full of high tech
The pilot is part of the EU-funded ESCALATE project, which aims to prove that a zero-emission heavy vehicle can operate reliably in real-world driving conditions.
Petri Kananen, head of Development at Sisu Auto, said, “The SISU Escalate truck is not a product that will be launched in the market, but rather a means for testing the technology. With the learnings from the pilot, we can choose the best solutions for a product series developed for the market. The data will help us develop energy management systems and optimise driving with the battery to maximise the distance that can be driven with electricity. Hydrogen is, after all, the more expensive fuel.”
Juuso Kelkka, senior manager of Technology Development at IONCOR, said, “Battery technology is a key element in the electrification of traffic. The pilot is carried out with a highly demanding setup: the modular battery platform must function in a 76-tonne articulated vehicle, in harsh winter conditions, and on a long-haul route. With this truck, we can prove that a lithium-ion battery is a viable solution even in these conditions.”
