Hear
Toyota took another step in the field of sustainable mobility and announced the start of the final phase of its project focused on hydrogen as a fuel source.
The Japanese automaker manufactured 10 prototypes based on the hiluxits star pickup in several markets -including Argentina-, equipping them with hydrogen fuel cells.
The initiative is part of a wider project supported and funded by the UK Government (from the Advanced Propulsion Centre), and activities are based at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) facility in Derby, England.
Of the 10 vehicles, five are undergoing field tests to evaluate its safety, performance and durability in real conditions, generating useful data for future commercialization; and the other five are participating in demos for clients and mediaincluding the next Olympic Games and Paris 2024 Paralympics.
The 10 test units are equipped with technology derived from the Toyota Mirai, the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell sedan in 2015, but they maintain the structural DNA of the Hilux.
The body has the same dimensions and robust look as the latest Hilux: 5,325 mm long, 1,855 mm wide and 1,810 mm high. The obvious difference is that instead of generating carbon emissions from the tailpipe, only water comes out.
Hydrogen is stored in three high pressure tanks, each weighing 2.6 kg, mounted inside the frame chassis. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell contains 330 cells and is mounted on the front axle. Thanks to the lightness of hydrogen, it can achieve a Greater load and towing capacity.
In terms of performance, the fuel cell is rear-wheel drive and, through an electric motor on the rear axle, delivers a maximum power of 134 kW and a maximum torque of 300 Nm.
For its part, a hybrid lithium ion battery, which stores the electricity produced on board by the fuel cell, is located in the rear cargo platform, above the hydrogen tanks. The autonomy is up to 600 kilometersgreater than that achieved by many 100% electric cars.
Toyota’s interest in hydrogen as an alternative fuel source is not new. The automaker has been researching the topic and developing fuel cells for 30 years to achieve longer life cycles, greater autonomy and lower costs at a productive and commercial level.
However, The most important developments occurred in the second half of 2023: in September they presented the first prototype of the Hilux with hydrogen batteries; Then in December of the same year Toyota Motor Europe (TME) announced the Hydrogen Factory in Europe, a facility dedicated to the production and development of hydrogen technologies.
Looking ahead, the company is developing its third generation of hydrogen fuel cell technology. These promise greater power density, a range increased by 20% and a significant reduction of more than a third in costs. Sales are scheduled for 2026.
The strategy is not limited to automotive transportation; The company is working on integrating fuel cells into a variety of applications, including the Marine transport and the energy generation.
In fact, there are several collaborators that are part of the project, including several industrial partners such as Ricardo, ETL, D2H Advanced Technologies and Thatcham Research.
In a press release, the firm noted that Europe is expected to be one of the largest hydrogen fuel cell markets by 2030.
