Toyota and Hino Develop FC Technology: Aiming to Contribute to the Advancement of a Hydrogen Society

From a presentation at the 18th International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo

2022/05/10

Summary
Toyota presentation: Expanding FC Technology and Applications for Hydrogen Society
Hino presentation: Hino's contribution to a hydrogen-based society and the practical application of commercial FCEVs

Summary

FCEV heavy-duty truck jointly developed by Toyota and Hino

Toyota and Hino are jointly developing FCEV heavy-duty trucks
(Source: Toyota/Hino joint release)

This report presents key takeaways from Toyota Motor Corporation's and Hino Motors, Ltd.’s presentations at the 18th International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo Seminar held in March 2022.

The presentation of Mr. Kohei Yoshida, General Manager of Commercial ZEV Systems Products Development Division, Toyota ZEV Factory, Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), was titled, “Expanding FC Technology and Applications for Hydrogen Society”.

Hydrogen technology is expected to play an important role toward carbon neutrality in the future, but according to Mr. Yoshida, the amount of hydrogen used is limited because it is not yet a familiar technology. Toyota is working to expand applications by seizing various opportunities. He introduced the Carbon Neutral Port (CNP) study group, new future city planning in Fukushima Prefecture using hydrogen and technology, and a logistics project using light-duty FC (fuel cell) trucks. He emphasized linking the learning from customers and the field to the development of good products. This approach to FC technology deployment is to take the fuel cell technology cultivated in the development of the second-generation Mirai and reconsider it as components and modules, and then repackage it to make it available to a large number of customers. By solving the technical issues found there, demand will further expand. The company will continue to advance fuel cell technology through this cycle.

Mr. Kouichi Ohhata, Operating Officer of Advanced Powertrain Development, Advanced Technology Division, Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino), delivered a presentation titled "Hino's contribution to a hydrogen-based society and the practical application of commercial FCEVs".

Hino will take on the challenge in three directions to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050. The first is the creation of "next-generation vehicles," which will replace the existing lineup with motor-driven vehicles (PHEVs (plug-in hybrids), BEVs (battery electric vehicles), FCEVs (fuel cell electric vehicles)). The second is "improvement of existing technologies," which will utilize HEVs (hybrid vehicles), e-fuel, and biofuels in vehicles that use internal combustion engines. The third is to improve the efficiency of logistics as a whole.

As for large FC commercial vehicles, Toyota and Hino launched the Sora, a large FCEV bus, in 2018. They are also jointly developing a heavy-duty FC truck, aiming for a driving range of 600km. He concluded his presentation by pointing out that in order to popularize commercial FCEVs in the future, it will be necessary to provide "economy" and "convenience" equal to or better than diesel vehicles, and that it will be essential to solve issues such as easing vehicle regulations on weight and length, reducing hydrogen prices, and improving infrastructure.

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