Truck Innovation Award 2027 – The finalists

Major innovations

Five projects have reached the final of the Truck Innovation Award 2027. They cover areas as varied as ultra-fast charging, hydrogen fuel cells, autonomous driving, digital driver support and hybrid powertrains.

The 2027 finalists are BYD Flash Charging and Blade Battery 2.0, the NextGen Fuel Cell System from cellcentric, the Level 4 autonomous driving programme developed by IVECO and PlusAI, Scania ProDriver and ZF TraXon 2 Hybrid.

Awarded by the International Truck of the Year jury, the Truck Innovation Award rewards technologies and projects that have the potential to improve the efficiency, safety and sustainability of road freight transport.

“This year’s candidates show just how many areas of road transport are currently evolving at a remarkable pace,” explains Florian Engel, Chairman of the International Truck of the Year jury. “Electrification remains a key driver, but innovation is also coming from hydrogen, automation and digital services.”

BYD Flash Charging and Blade Battery 2.0

BYD combines its second-generation Blade Battery with its FLASH Charging technology which, according to specifications intended for the Chinese market, makes it possible to reach charging power of up to 1,500 kW through a single connector.

Charging from 10 to 70% can be completed in just five minutes, while going from 10 to 97% takes nine minutes. Even at a temperature of -30°C, BYD announces only 12 minutes to go from 20 to 97%.

The Blade Battery 2.0 also offers a 5% increase in energy density. Charging stations equipped with a buffer storage system should also make it possible to reduce the impact of these very high charging powers on the electricity grid.

Cellcentric BZA375

The NextGen Fuel Cell System from cellcentric is designed for long-distance heavy-duty transport and is based on a single-system architecture prioritising efficiency, power density and simplified integration into the vehicle.

Weighing less than 500 kg, the system develops up to 375 kW of continuous net power. For a fully loaded 40-tonne truck, cellcentric is targeting hydrogen consumption of less than 6 kg/100 km.

Compared with the previous generation, the manufacturer announces a reduction in consumption of around 20%, a 40% increase in power density and around 40% less waste heat under high-load conditions.

Pre-series production has already started in Esslingen, while the ramp-up of series production is planned towards the end of the decade.

IVECO x PlusAI

IVECO and PlusAI enter the competition with a programme aimed at the first deployment of Level 4 autonomous heavy-duty trucks in Southern Europe.

With the support of logistics group Sesé and the Government of Aragon, the partners are developing two IVECO S-Way trucks equipped with PlusAI’s SuperDrive virtual driver.

These multi-year trials are due to begin in 2026, with a safety driver permanently on board throughout the entire testing phase.

The vehicles are expected to operate on a logistics corridor of around 300 km between Madrid and Zaragoza, making it possible to test autonomous driving technology under real-world transport conditions.

Scania ProDriver

Scania ProDriver is a digital coaching service designed to improve the efficiency of vehicles already in operation by helping drivers improve their driving style.

Data from connected vehicles is transformed into personalised feedback, educational content, practical challenges and gamification elements. Fleet managers can also monitor driver performance and potential fuel savings.

According to Scania, ProDriver is used by 120,000 drivers in 56 countries and can deliver fuel savings of up to 5%.

In a real-world analysis involving 897 drivers, average fuel consumption fell by 3.1%.

ZF TraXon 2 Hybrid

With TraXon 2 Hybrid, ZF introduces hybridisation directly into the transmission of heavy-duty commercial vehicles, applying its expertise in hybrid technology to the specific requirements of the commercial vehicle sector.

The system has been designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while offering manufacturers an additional solution for markets and applications where the transition towards full electrification is progressing at different speeds.

Innovation goes beyond the truck

The five candidates illustrate the breadth of innovations currently being developed in road freight transport: batteries, charging infrastructure, hydrogen powertrains, hybridisation, autonomous driving and digital services for drivers.

“The candidates address very different aspects of the same challenge,” points out Florian Engel. “The jury must assess not only the maturity level of a technology, but also its ability to make a tangible contribution to real-world transport operations.”

Night of the Stars

The winner of the Truck Innovation Award 2027 will be announced at the IAA Transportation in Hanover, during the Night of the Stars gala evening, on Monday, 14 September 2026.

“Innovation must ultimately deliver practical value,” concludes Florian Engel. “These five candidates demonstrate very different approaches to improving efficiency, sustainability and productivity. Our task now is to determine which one represents the most significant advancement.”

Photos:

1 : BYD Flash Charging and Blade Battery 2.0 2 : cellcentric NextGen Fuel Cell System BZA 375 3 : IVECO x PlusAI 4 : Scania ProDriver 5 : ZF TraXon 2 Hybrid