Dakar 2025: The hydrogen-diesel hybrid trucks participating in the world’s toughest rally raid

When you think of the Dakar Rally, the image that springs to mind is likely one of vast deserts, relentless terrain, highly strung racing machines, and sheer human endurance.

At this years event, though, there’s an equally as noisy, but much cleaner revolution underway – one driven by hydrogen and diesel working in symphony.

The 2025 Dakar Rally is showcasing two hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel trucks equipped with a fancy new emissions-reducing technology from dynaCERT, called HydraGEN™.

The Dakar hydrogen trucks

French team Normandy Racing Solutions (NRS) are fielding the two HydraGEN™ equipped trucks in this year’s rally:

One is a DAF prototype truck (#623) running as a “fast assistance truck,” supporting the Overdrive Toyota Hilux team.

Under the bonnet is a 13-litre bi-turbo engine from PACCAR delivering a thundering 950 horsepower.

The other is a MAN racing truck (#915) competing in the Dakar Classic (under the HoleShot Competition).

This tricked-out oldtimer already boasts a podium finish in the 2024 rally, and once again is powered by the same 500-horsepower MAN 8-litre monster engine fitted again with dynaCERT’s HydraGEN™ tech.

What is HydraGEN™?

At the heart of both of these rigs is dynaCERT’s proprietary HydraGEN™ system.

The system uses electrolysis, converting distilled water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, which are injected precisely when needed, on demand, into the engine’s air intake.

This enhances the diesel combustion, improves fuel efficiency, and significantly reduces emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, and particulates that won’t come out of the exhaust pipe.

For the uninitiated, it’s a clever way to slash emissions whilst still maintaining the existing rough, tough and reliable diesel powertrain without requiring a complete overhaul.

Test of tech and tenacity

dynaCERT’s HydraGEN™ system is undergoing its ultimate stress test in the blistering heat of the Saudi Arabian desert.

The Dakar Rally’s infamous conditions – punishing vibrations, extreme temperatures, and relentless terrain – make it a trial by fire.

Or in this case, by sand, stretching across 8,000 kilometres and in the gruelling Saudi desert from January 3, 2025 to January 17, 2025

The race offers the chance to gather invaluable real-world data to refine HydraGEN™ for broader applications in industries like mining, forestry, logistics and beyond.