Kopřivnice-based Tatra Trucks, together with its partners, has launched the development of a completely new hydrogen-powered truck, the Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6x4, based on the latest 3rd generation Force platform. The project is co-funded by the European Union and is expected to be completed by mid-2028. This marks the company’s second initiative in this field, aiming to deliver a prototype of a three-axle utility vehicle for municipal services, featuring autonomous driving capabilities and remote control operation. In addition to being environmentally friendly, the vehicle will offer entirely new modes of operation, made possible by advanced electronics, assistance systems, and automated features.
The project is built on a strong consortium consisting of Tatra Trucks, DEVINN, and the Technical University of Ostrava (VSB–TUO).
DEVINN has been one of the leading Czech engineering companies for over a decade and is a key integrator of hydrogen technologies applied in both energy and transportation sectors. VSB–TUO is a prestigious academic institution with a robust scientific infrastructure and approximately 13,000 students.
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The synergy of experience between Tatra and its partners, gained through earlier collaborations such as the Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 8x6 prototype for mining operations and the Tatra Force 4x4 vehicle featuring autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), creates ideal conditions for a new project with practical real-world applications. In addition to developing the Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6x4 prototype, the project aims to establish suitable conditions for the commercialization of research outcomes and to support the creation of legislative frameworks that enable the daily operation of vehicles of this kind.
Kristijan Fiket
General Director of Tatra Trucks
Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6x4
"Bridging academia with industrial practice is key to technological progress and ensuring that scientific outcomes truly impact everyday life. Our collaboration with Tatra Trucks and DEVINN is a great example of how a university can bring research expertise into development processes while also gaining valuable experience for both students and research teams. For our university, such partnerships are beneficial not only in the field of applied research but also in fostering an innovation ecosystem that strengthens the competitiveness of the entire region," said Igor Ivan, Rector of VSB – Technical University of Ostrava.
The Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6x4 is primarily designed for municipal services.
Thanks to its electric drivetrain powered by hydrogen fuel cells, it represents an environmentally sustainable solution for operation in low-emission and zero-emission zones, an area of growing importance across European cities. Typical use cases include urban waste collection in city centers, operations at landfills, or use within industrial zones, where high reliability and durability of municipal and commercial vehicles are essential.
The vehicle can be equipped with various bodies such as street cleaning equipment, configurations for winter road maintenance, or as a classic tipper truck for emission-free construction work in urban environments.
As with all Tatra vehicles, the Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6x4 is engineered to perform reliably under demanding operational conditions.
Luboš Hájský, CEO of DEVINN:
“From DEVINN’s perspective, this is already the third alternative-propulsion vehicle we have co-developed. The new hydrogen Tatra builds on key insights gained during testing of the Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 8×6 and delivers a more efficient component layout as well as reduced packaging of the power unit and cooling system in order to meet the low-entry cab requirement. At the same time, we focused on improving recuperation (regenerative braking) efficiency and optimizing the vehicle’s energy consumption. At DEVINN, we highly value our cooperation with Tatra Trucks and recognize the importance of our role in preparing this technologically advanced prototype.”
“The vehicle will be built on a 6×4 chassis with two driven rear axles and a non-driven trapezoidal front axle. This, for Tatra, unconventional layout will allow the driver and crew cab to be mounted lower than on standard Tatra trucks, improving outward visibility and making entry and exit easier in everyday operation. Unlike the front trapezoidal axle, the rear axles will use Tatra’s traditional solution with a central backbone tube and independently suspended swinging half-axles, which deliver excellent driving characteristics both on roads and on unpaved surfaces,” explained Jakub Pončík, Technical Director of the Kopřivnice-based automaker.
“The vehicle can handle gradients of over 30 percent, reach speeds of up to 85 km/h, has a maximum weight exceeding 25 tonnes, and is expected to offer a range of more than 200 kilometers, all with zero local emissions.”
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A separate chapter is the development of advanced driver-assistance and automated control systems.
“Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6×4 will be equipped with a comprehensive suite of sensors, radars, lidars, and a high-performance control computer that will enable the integration of a range of electronic assistance systems and pave the way for automated driving and fully autonomous operation. The vehicle will thus be capable of operating without a driver in the cab and can also be controlled wirelessly by remote. A unique feature we aim to test on the vehicle is the integration of a drone that will accompany the truck and monitor its operation from a bird’s-eye view.”
explained Radomír Smolka, a member of the Tatra Trucks Board responsible for Research & Development.
This system will provide an additional layer of safety, improve situational awareness in the field, and enable efficient oversight, for example when operating within closed facilities or hazardous zones.
For municipal services, it enables a creep mode during waste collection, where the vehicle moves at low speed without constant driver input, allowing the operator to focus on handling the waste itself. When the Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6×4 platform with a drone is used by rescue and fire units, it opens the possibility of deploying uncrewed vehicles into high-risk areas. The flexibility of the automated driving system also lies in letting users choose the level of capability and the scope of equipment according to their needs and budgets.
The Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6×4 project builds on an earlier initiative by Tatra Trucks and its partners in hydrogen technologies. In autumn 2023, at the H2 Forum conference, the Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 8×6, powered by hydrogen fuel cells and likewise based on the third-generation Force chassis, was unveiled. That project, carried out by a consortium led by ÚJV Řež in cooperation with Tatra Trucks, DEVINN, the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, and the Řež Research Centre, and supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, focused on testing various technologies for the mining industry. The new Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6×4 project goes a step further: it targets the municipal sector and combines clean propulsion with fully automated driving, laying the groundwork for a new generation of commercial vehicles.
Tatra Trucks once again shows it can be a pioneer and set the direction in modern technology. In collaboration with partners from academia and the tech sector, it is succeeding in creating vehicles that are not only a response to society’s current needs, but above all a vision of the future. The Tatra Force e-Drive FCEV 6×4 project with automated driving brings together a sustainable approach, technical innovation, and practical utility, advancing the very nature of day-to-day operations for commercial and municipal vehicles to a new level.
About Tatra Trucks a.s.
In 2013, Tatra Trucks a.s. took over the world-renowned brand and the Kopřivnice-based automaker, which subsequently underwent a successful restructuring following a change in ownership. In addition to standardized model lines, the company also manufactures special-purpose trucks tailored to customer requirements. The Czech Republic and Slovakia are key home markets, while a significant share of production is exported to dozens of countries worldwide. Tatra Trucks a.s. employs more than 1,800 people, with a further 500 working at its subsidiary Tatra Metalurgie a.s., which focuses primarily on foundry and forging. The shareholders of Tatra Trucks are the industrial-technology holding Czechoslovak Group and the engineering group Promet Group.
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