GBV delivers breakthrough hydrogen truck after failed global attempts
After success in hydrogen-powered buses and marine vessels, GBV was commissioned by TR Group to undertake one of New Zealand’s most complex vehicle conversions: transforming a diesel truck into a fully operational hydrogen vehicle. Multiple international firms had previously failed to deliver a working prototype, with one abandoning the effort entirely. GBV spent three months reverse-engineering the base vehicle followed by four months designing, assembling and integrating the hydrogen fuel cell system, achieving a fully operational truck within seven months. The project was custom-engineered to meet the specific reliability and performance demands of New Zealand freight operations rather than adapting overseas designs.
The development pushed regulatory boundaries, with braking system certification requiring several additional months of testing. GBV became the first supplier in New Zealand to certify a hydrogen truck braking system in line with national legislation. Throughout the process, the company worked directly with Waka Kotahi NZTA to navigate the absence of established hydrogen vehicle standards, adopting European hydrogen safety and engineering benchmarks, running internal audits and formally presenting technical justifications to regulators. The success of the prototype has led to an order for eleven additional hydrogen trucks currently in production, marking a major step toward zero-emission heavy transport in New Zealand.