Hydrogen fuel cell Toyota Hilux ready for field trials

UK-funded and developed FCEV promises rapid refuelling and 360-mile range

- JOHN EVANS

Toyota has taken a major step in the development of hydrogen propulsion with the unveiling of a prototype Hilux fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).

Although the company's first FCEV was a car (the Mirai, on sale since 2014 and now into its second generation), commercial vehicles' need for quicker refuelling and longer range than batteries can presently provide makes them a better fit for the technology.

Toyota's new FCEV pick-up truck has a simulated range of 360 miles and a refuelling time similar to that of a diesel.

The project - which was funded, developed and delivered in the UK at Toyota's Burnaston plant - was given the go-ahead just 12 months ago. Since then, a team of engineers from Toyota and specialists from Ricardo, European Thermodynamics, D2H Advanced Technologies and Thatcham Research have adapted 10 Hilux development vehicles to accept the Mirai's powertrain and fuelling system.

One has been crash tested while on-road development continues with the others ahead of test vehicles being placed with potential customers, who include emergency services.

Despite the emergence of native FCEV truck makers Tevva and Hydrogen Vehicle Systems and the availability of FCEV cars (most notably the Mirai and Hyundai Nexo), the UK has been relatively slow to embrace hydrogen.

Currently, only around 15 stations offer the fuel publicly. However, that could be about to change, as a nationwide network of H₂ fuelling stations is being planned, with the first expected to open early next year at Teesside airport.

To be built by Yorkshire-based start-up Element2, the network will be part-funded by the UK government, the aim being to help drive its strategy to encourage 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity in the UK by 2030.