A hydrogen fuel cell electric Hilux was unveiled at Toyota Manufacturing UK's vehicle plant in Derby, England, where it was developed in a joint project with consortium partners supported by UK government funding. The Hilux has a reputation for high reliability and durability. As the Japanese company explained, the development project explored how these qualities could be maintained while introducing a new zero-emission fuel cell electric powertrain.
The new powertrain uses core elements from the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric sedan. There are no tailpipe emissions other than clear water from the fuel cell when driving.
Hydrogen is stored in three high-pressure fuel tanks, giving the prototype Hilux an expected range of more than 600 km - significantly further than a battery electric system. The hybrid battery, which stores the electricity produced by the fuel cell on board, is located in the rear cargo area, so there is no loss of cabin space.
New hydrogen-powered Toyota Hilux
The project began in early 2022 with a feasibility study conducted by Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK and Toyota Motor Europe. This was followed by funding from the UK government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, a not-for-profit organization that supports the development of clean technologies and new mobility concepts. Prototype construction began on June 5th this year, working to Toyota Production System principles in a dedicated area of the TMUK facility. The first vehicle was completed just three weeks later, the first of 10 to be built by the end of the year.
According to the Toyota press release: "These will undergo rigorous testing to ensure safety, dynamic performance, functionality and durability meet the high standards required of a production model."
Source: Toyota
