The Hilux will be powered by the same system as the Mirai

Toyota UK recently revealed that it is working on developing a version of the Hilux which will be powered by an alternative power source, namely hydrogen fuel cell.

While most manufacturers including Toyota in the past have used hydrogen fuel cell to power passenger cars, this is the first time it is going to be used to power a pickup truck.

In collaboration with UK based technical engineering partners, namely Ricardo, ETL, D2H and Thatcham Research, the project’s aim is to adopt second generation Toyota fuel cell components (as used in the latest Toyota Mirai) for the transformation of a Hilux into a fuel cell electric vehicle. 

While TMUK is leading the project, a team from Toyota Motor Europe (TME) R&D will provide expert technical support to enable the UK-based teams to build its own expertise and self-sufficiency to develop next generation hydrogen drivetrain capabilities. 
 

Driven by an evolving customer demand and the switch towards sustainable mobility across all sectors, Toyota UK has identified a new opportunity in the commercial vehicle market in terms of a zero-emissions product offering. 

What the company did was that it applied for some funding from the UK Government through its Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to develop new, cleaner technologies and mobility solutions.

The APC, which offers unique opportunities to bridge the gap between industry and future technological requirements, specifically supports later stage R&D that takes a product from proof of concept to prototype vehicles.  

For over 20 years, Toyota has been promoting a multi-path approach to carbon neutrality by offering a diverse vehicle line-up including all electrified technologies, Hybrid Electric, Plug-in Hybrid Electric, Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Electric. 

The development of a successful hydrogen transport sector is an essential building block towards this goal. Within the scope of the bid, the initial prototype vehicles will be produced at the TMUK site in Burnaston during 2023. 

Following successful performance results, the target is to prepare for small series production. This project represents an exciting opportunity to investigate an additional application of Toyota’s fuel cell technology in a vehicle segment that is key to a number of industry groups and will help support the sector’s move towards decarbonisation.