Electric, hydrogen or diesel: what is realistic on the used market?

With new trucks, much of the attention goes to electric driving and hydrogen. On the used truck market, however, the trade-offs are different. Anyone buying second-hand and possibly exporting looks at availability, infrastructure and long-term reliability. We weigh up the three drivetrains soberly against each other.

Diesel: still the backbone

Diesel dominates the second-hand market and that will remain the case for the time being. Supply is large, the technology is proven and workshops, parts and fuel are available everywhere in the world. For export to markets with less developed charging infrastructure, a reliable diesel truck is almost always the most practical choice. Within diesel, however, the focus is shifting to the emission class, which you can read more about in our guide to Euro 5 and Euro 6.

Electric: promising, but tied to its environment

Electric trucks perform well in urban distribution with fixed, short routes and a dedicated charging point at the depot. On the second-hand market, supply is still limited and two questions play a major role: the condition and remaining capacity of the battery pack, and the availability of charging infrastructure at the destination. For local use in a well-equipped region, a used electric truck can be attractive; for long distances or export to areas without a charging network, it is not a realistic option for the time being.

Hydrogen: still mostly a thing of the future

Hydrogen trucks are still at an early stage technologically. The number of vehicles is small, the refuelling station network is sparse and there is hardly any supply on the second-hand market. For most buyers, hydrogen is therefore not a practical choice right now, but a development to keep an eye on for the longer term.

How to choose wisely

• Assess the destination: is there charging or refuelling infrastructure for the chosen type?
• Look at the application: short fixed routes lend themselves to electric, long and international trips to diesel;
• With electric: always have the battery condition assessed, because it determines the residual value;
• Give reliability and serviceability plenty of weight, especially when exporting.

A choice that suits your situation

The best drivetrain is the one that fits where and how you drive. Our team helps you make that decision, so that you don't choose the latest technology, but the vehicle that delivers the most in your operation.