The 2024 edition of the IAA in Hannover saw a strong presence of Chinese brands in the industrial vehicle sector, with Halls 19 and 20 largely occupied by these emerging market players. This shift was facilitated by Mercedes-Benz's reduced exhibition space compared to past editions. Several Chinese manufacturers of heavy, light, and medium-duty vehicles, some already known in Europe and others debuting for the first time, gained ground.
One of the standout newcomers was Kaiyun Energy, a Beijing-based group specializing in the development of battery-powered and hydrogen fuel cell industrial vehicles. The company showcased a comprehensive range of vehicles, from the compact One Meter to the sturdy Hundred Ton, along with the versatile Ten Cubic. The vehicle price lists, displayed in euros, were eagerly reviewed by visitors, confirming the brand’s intention to rapidly enter the European market.
Kaiyun Energy focuses on a wide variety of use cases, ranging from transporting raw materials from production sites to ports, to local and regional distribution. The range also includes more specialized applications, such as street food trucks and urban waste compactors. All vehicles are available in fully electric, traditional fuel (gasoline or diesel), and hydrogen fuel cell versions. In the hydrogen-powered variant, the compactors are priced between €76,000 and €92,000, depending on the engine configuration.
The company stands out not only for the diversity of its products but also for its modular design approach. Kaiyun Energy designs its vehicles in blocks, allowing all models to be assembled on a single production line, thus reducing production and maintenance costs. This modularity is paired with extensive customization: vehicles can be tailored to specific use cases, ensuring a perfect match between product and application. Additionally, all hydrogen-powered vehicles contribute to a zero-carbon emission ecosystem, utilizing stainless steel and a paint-free manufacturing process, reducing environmental impact.
At the booth, we observed a heavy-duty truck available with different engine configurations. The battery-electric version has an 11-ton tare weight and a 300-kilometer range. It is powered by a 360kW/490 HP motor and is priced at €95,000. The hydrogen version offers an 800-kilometer range, with a motor outputting 520kW/707 HP and a price of €132,000. There’s also a diesel version with a 340kW/462 HP engine priced at €105,000. In all cases, the total mass is 40 tons.
On the lighter vehicle front, Kaiyun Energy also offers a model in three engine options: battery-electric (240 km range, priced at €33,000), hydrogen-electric (1,000 km range, priced at €39,000), and diesel (priced at €36,000). All are six meters long, offering a payload of 4 tons, with a top speed of 100 km/h.
Massimiliano Barberis
