The five hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, announced this week, will join the company’s European operations, where they are expected to cut 160 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

The company behind the new mode of transport says it created and delivered the hydrogen vehicles within 18 months, in a move designed to expand the range of IKEA’S low-emission delivery network.

The news comes as the federal government opened expressions of interest for a $2 billion hydrogen fund designed to reduce the cost of producing the renewable gas in the country, and after changes in NSW to temporarily allow more electric truck trials.

IKEA Austria chief sustainability officer Alpaslan Deliloglu said the five Quantron QLI FCEV trucks were the first hydrogen trucks deployed by the furniture group worldwide and were chosen to cut its carbon emissions over long distances.

“We want to show that a transformation to zero-emission delivery is already possible today,” he said.

The trucks, created by German firm Quantron AG in collaboration with Canada’s Ballard Power Systems, were drafted, built and delivered within 18 months.

Quantron executive chairman Andreas Haller said the vehicles could travel up to 400km on a one tank of hydrogen thanks to its energy management system and aerodynamics.

The five hydrogen trucks would be deployed alongside a fleet of 56 electric delivery trucks, Mr Haller said, to cut a total of 610 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

IKEA Australia which operates 12 stores, trialled two three-wheeled e-TukTuks for deliveries earlier this year as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The company has also deployed a new fast-charging electric vehicle charging station at its Tempe store in NSW, in partnership with Evie Networks.

The two charging stations, both of which will offer 150 kilowatt connections, come in addition to vehicle chargers the company offers in most of its NSW, Queensland and ACT stores.

Evie Networks chief operating officer Geoff Brady said offering vehicle-charging near stores and businesses would prove a vital part of accelerating adoption of the technology.

“Making fast-charging a seamless part of customers’ shopping experiences will help advance our mission to accelerate the adoption of EVs in Australia,” he said.

“If we want to move towards a cleaner transport future, people need to be confident that they can charge whenever and wherever they need.”

Ikea’s use of hydrogen vehicles comes after the Australian government launched a $2 billion funding program, Hydrogen Headstart, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to boost the production of green hydrogen in the country.

It also follows the announcement of a two-year trial by NSW to allow heavier electric and hydrogen trucks on the state’s roads, increasing the axle weight limit.