Tag Archives: fuel cell electric vehicle

EV, NEWS

Toyota’s 3rd gen hydrogen fuel cell system promises more range

To this date, the use of electric vehicles with hydrogen fuel cell systems (FCEVs) is still not as widespread compared to electric vehicles (EVs).

Take, for instance, the Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen-powered sedan that has been available since 2014, with over 28,000 units sold in more than 30 countries.

This is a relatively small figure.

However, in addition to the passenger car market, Toyota has also been supplying this fuel cell system for other uses, such as buses, trains, and stationary power generation systems since 2019.

Looking ahead, Toyota still believes that this hydrogen system can serve as a better alternative to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and EVs.

The third-generation fuel cell system was officially introduced recently, promising a more compact unit and a driving range that is 20 percent longer (up to 772 kilometers).

Furthermore, Toyota claims that this third-generation system can achieve durability comparable to that of diesel engines while offering maintenance-free design benefits.

Through innovations in cell design and manufacturing processes, this system is also cheaper to produce, contributing to a more affordable sales price.

The third-generation fuel cell system will not only be used for the passenger vehicle segment but is also expected to be expanded to the heavy-duty commercial vehicle segment for markets in Japan, Europe, North America, and China by 2026.

 

Second-generation Toyota Mirai

NEWS

Toyota Hilux FCEV enters testing and demonstration phase

9 Comments

The Toyota Hilux hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) development project, which was first announced in December 2022, has now entered its final phase.

According to Toyota, 10 Hilux FCEV prototypes have been built at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) plant in Derby, England.

Five vehicles are undergoing rigorous field testing to assess safety, performance, functionality, and durability, generating test drive data in real-world situations, while the other five are engaged in customer and media demonstrations, including at the forthcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.

Externally, the fuel cell model has the same dimensions and rugged appearance as the latest Hilux generation but beneath the surface, there’s a ‘heart’ derived from the Mirai that offers a range of up to 600 km – further than might be achieved using a battery electric system.

And thanks to hydrogen’s light weight, the Hilux FCEV is said to have higher payload capacity and towing capability compared to other zero-emission alternatives

Hydrogen is stored in three high-pressure fuel tanks, each containing 2.6kg to give a total capacity of 7.8kg. The tanks are mounted within the vehicle’s ladder frame chassis.

At the front axle, there is polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising 330 cells producing 174 PS, while mounted on the rear axle an electric motor generating 182 PS and 300 Nm of torque.

Meanwhile, the lithium-ion battery, which stores the electricity generated by the fuel cells, is located in the rear load deck, above the hydrogen tanks. This avoids any loss of cabin space.

Hydrogen fuel cell is one of the powertrains developed by Toyota as part of its previously announced multi-pathway strategy.

The company expects Europe to be one of the world’s largest hydrogen fuel markets by 2030. As a result, in December 2023, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) announced the Hydrogen Factory Europe to help accelerate the commercialization of the technology.