Toyota Announce The Hydrogen Hilux
This article on MSN is entitled Toyota Just Revealed The New Hilux And It’s Changed In Every Way, Except One.
This is a paragraph.
First thing’s first: all of this is subject to change, as Toyota has stated. Toyota has issued several worldwide press releases detailing the specifics of the new Hilux, including a Toyota Australia-designed exterior and interior package, an arrival date for the hydrogen FCEV Hilux set for 2028, and sales scheduled in Europe and the U.K. for mid-2026 with diesel hybrid and all-new BEV variants available.
The 2028 date for the hydrogen FCEV Hilux gives Toyota three years to sort out the hydrogen supply.
Who Could Develop A Network Of Filling Stations For Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles?
By 2028, there could be several groups of hydrogen powered vehicles on the market.
- Toyota’s Hilux FCEV
- Wrightbus will have launched a hydrogen-powered coach.
- I suspect that JCB will have launched a hydrogen-powered digger.
- I also suspect, that at least one hydrogen-powered truck will have been launched in the UK.
- In an article on electrive, the Wrightbus CEO is pracmatic about hydrogen.
Someone will need to develop a network of hydrogen filling stations.
HiiROC claim they have scaleable technology to create an electrolyser, that can generate hydrogen, where it is needed from any hydrocarbon gas.
- The HiiROC electrolyser separates the carbon out as carbon black, so HiiROC can be considered zero-carbon, if the carbon black is used or stored.
- The long range of hydrogen vehicles probably means hydrogen filling stations don’t need to be as numerous as conventional filling stations.
- HiiROC could probably put one of their Thermal Plasma Electrolysers at any location with a natural gas supply.
- HiiROC is also well-backed by Centrica and others.
HiiROC is certainly one possibilities, but there may be others.
What Happened To The Toyota Hydrogen-Powered HiLux?
I wrote about this vehicle in Toyota Unveils Prototype Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hilux, but I’ve not heard any more.
So I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this reply.
The Toyota hydrogen-powered Hilux is currently in the demonstration and evaluation phase and has not been officially confirmed for mass production. Ten prototypes were built in the UK and are undergoing testing, with some being used for customer and media demonstrations at events like the Paris Olympics. Toyota is using this project to gather data, refine its hydrogen technology, and prepare for a future European market that could see the vehicle go on sale around 2028.
A simple Google search produced this YouTube video and this article in the Toyota UK magazine.
I don’t want to drive one, as that would be illegal, but I have just added riding in one of these beasts to my bucket list.
Toyota Have Gone To The Advanced Propulsion Centre For Their Latest Project
In Toyota Leads Multi-Million-Pound Micromobility Research Project, I write about another project, where Toyota have approached the Advanced Propulsion Centre for funding and technical help. So the Advanced Propulsion Centre must be doing something right, to attract another project from Toyota.
In CoacH2 – The Next Generation Coach, I write about how the Advanced Propulsion Centre are helping to develop the powertrain for Wrightbus’s upcoming hydrogen-powered coach.
It certainly looks like the Advanced Propulsion Centre are in the middle of the net-zero transport revolution.
Toyota Unveils Prototype Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hilux
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Engineer.
This is the sub-heading.
Toyota has today (September 5, 2023) unveiled a prototype hydrogen fuel cell-powered Hilux at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston car plant in Derby.
This is the first paragraph.
The pick-up has been developed in a joint project with consortium partners Ricardo, ETL, D2H Advanced Technologies and Thatcham Research. and funding from the government via the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).
It would appear to be a consortium of some of the important great and good of British automobile engineering.
- Ricardo are a well-respected environmental and engineering consultancy, who probably know more about powering vehicles, than most companies have forgotten.
- Thatcham Research is the motor insurers’ automotive research centre.
- The Advanced Propulsion Centre collaborates with UK government, the automotive industry and academia to accelerate the industrialisation of technologies.
To my mind, the great advantage is that they are starting with a vehicle that has a formidable reputation.
When I outlined, the product to a friend, who had owned vehicles of this type, his reply was “Wow!”
Points from the article include.
- The expected driving range is more than 365 miles.
- The project began in early 2022 with a feasibility study undertaken by TMUK and Toyota Motor Europe with the consortium partners.
- Design and development started at July 1, 2022.
- Prototype construction began on June 5, 2023.
- The first vehicle was completed in three weeks.
- Ten preproduction examples will be produced before the end of the year.
- Ricardo supported preparations for the prototype build and will undertake complete evaluation of the vehicle over the coming months.
- Thatcham Research supported the project through the provision of sustainable repair consultancy and the preparation of hydrogen training for the repair market.
On paper, it looks like the consortium have taken an extremely useful vehicle and updated it for the 21st century.
Inly time will tell, if the design is right.
I have a few questions.
What Is The Towing Performance?
In my experience, many owners will want to tow heavy trailers, horse boxes or portable cafes and toilets for events like music festivals and agricultural and country shows.
If the towing performance matches that of a diesel Hilux, Toyota will probably have got it right.
How Many Miles Does The v Average Small Builder Or Smallholder Do In A Week?
Toyota must know this from servicing records of the diesel HiLux fleet.
I would suspect for many, 365 miles would allow a weekly or twice weekly refuelling!
Where Would Owners Refuel Their Hydrogen-Powered HiLux?
I suspect that Toyota dealerships Selling Hydrogen-Powered HiLux and Mirai, would make their own arrangements.
Would A Hydrogen-Powered HiLux Help To Decarbonise Work Sites?
I suspect it would and the electrical system could probably be used to power and charge small electrical tools.
Would A Hydrogen-Powered HiLux Be An Ideal Farm Runabout?
I am thinking about a friend of mine, who is a Suffolk farmer, who farms rare breed sheep.
He uses a big pick-up to tow a large trailer to take the sheep to market and shows and to move them around the country to other breeders. He has in the past used a golf buggy to check on his flocks and help with the welfare of the animals.
Some of his sheep are raised on the saltings, which gives them a unique flavour, but does involve the occasional accident, and sometimes needs a tricky recovery.
I spoke to him last night and he will be looking at this Toyota. His current vehicle does tend to frighten the sheep as it is too noisy.
Would A Hydrogen-Powered HiLux Work Well In Hot Countries?
The current HiLux is built in South Africa and those for Europe were generally made there.
So I would expect some African examples could have been made there.
Some hydrogen fuel cells need to be cooled, so would this be a problem in hot countries?
On the other hand , it does seem that hydrogen production in hot countries, with all that sun, might not be a problem.
Would A Hydrogen-Powered HiLux Make A Good Technical?
Diesel HiLux are popular as technicals and I suspect that the hydrogen-powered HiLux will be just as good.
Although the low-down mounting of the hydrogen tanks may make them susceptible to landmines.
Why Is It Not Called A HyLux?
I couldn’t resist asking that.
Conclusion
I like the hydrogen-powered HiLux and feel it will be a winner.
Toyota And VDL Groep To Convert Heavy-Duty Vehicles Into Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Hydrogen Fuel News.
This is the first paragraph.
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) and Dutch VDL Groep have teamed up to covert VDL’s existing heavy-duty trucks into hydrogen fuel cell trucks using Toyota’s fuel cell modules, with a goal to accelerate decarbonizing the road logistics sector while also breaking into Europe’s zero-emission heavy duty H2 trucks market.
Note.
- According to their Wikipedia entry, VDL Groep seem to manufacture buses, coaches, chassis modules and vehicle components.
- In Ricardo Supports Toyota To Develop Its First UK-Based Hydrogen Light Commercial Vehicle, I wrote about conversion of the Toyota Hilux to hydrogen.
- There are a large number of companies all over the world, who will convert vehicles to hydrogen.
- It could be argued that Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis, have designed hydrogen buses, that could be conversions of existing designs.
- Cummins are selling diesel engines, that can be converted to hydrogen.
Could these points indicate, that one of the main routes to the decarbonisation of the heavier end of the commercial vehicle sector will be conversion of existing vehicles to hydrogen fuel?
And will this lead to smaller conversion kits to decarbonise vehicles like Land Rovers, Range Rovers, larger BMWs, Jaguars and Mercedes?
If you consider, that when I was growing up in the 1950s, you rarely saw a small diesel vehicle and how diesel came to grab a large market share, due to good engineering and some misguided tax changes from Gordon Brown, I don’t think it is unreasonable to believe that good engineering and perhaps well-thought out tax changes could create an affordable route to decarbonise a large proportion of vehicles.
If I was still driving and lived away from dreaded ULEZs, then I would be keeping my reliable diesel Jaguar estate.
Hydrogen Corolla Cross Begins Testing In Japan
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Toyota UK Magazine.
These two introductory paragraphs outline Toyota’s plans for hydrogen.
Toyota’s approach to carbon neutrality is to develop and offer multiple technologies to support widely varying customer needs and market environments around the world. This multi-technology approach – which includes battery electric and fuel cell electric and plug-in hybrid electric and hybrid electric vehicles – is witnessed in the company’s development of a new hydrogen car powered by a hydrogen combustion engine.
Toyota firmly believes it is too early to focus on a single zero-emission solution and is therefore concurrently developing hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen combustion technology alongside battery electric technology. Today’s announcement follows last week’s confirmation that Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK will lead a consortium developing a hydrogen fuel cell version of the Hilux pick-up at its Burnaston car plant in Derbyshire.
This paragraph gives more details of the car.
This version of the mid-size Corolla SUV* is powered by the 1.6-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine featured in the GR Corolla* performance model, re-engineered with high-pressure hydrogen direct injection technology. The prototype is also fitted with hydrogen fuel tanks, packaged with know-how gained from the development of the Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric saloon. The prototype is able to accommodate five passengers and their luggage. Real-world evaluation is being carried out alongside digital development, and the vehicle will soon undergo winter testing in northern Japan.
I must admit, that if I still drove, this type of vehicle with a hydrogen internal combustion engine, would be what I’d buy.
Ricardo Supports Toyota To Develop Its First UK-Based Hydrogen Light Commercial Vehicle
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Ricardo.
This is the first paragraph.
Ricardo, a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, is supporting Toyota, in partnership with the APC, on a significant, multi-year project to develop its first zero emission hydrogen powered light commercial vehicle in the UK.
Note.
- Ricardo is a long-established engineering consultancy, headquartered in Shoreham, that employs 3,000 people and has a turnover of around £350,000. It has a high reputation, especially in the design of diesel engines.
- Ricardo has already converted a diesel bus to hydrogen, which I wrote about in Ricardo Repowers Double Decker Diesel Bus With Hydrogen Fuel Cells.
- The zero emission hydrogen powered light commercial vehicle, will be based on the Toyota Hilux, of which nearly twenty million have been built.
- Toyota already produce the hydrogen-powered Mirai.
- The APC is the UK Government’s Advanced Propulsion Centre.
This looks like one of those collaborations in the 1960s between Ford and Lotus, that produced the iconic Lotus Cortina.
The press release says this about Ricardo’s role in the project.
The Toyota Hilux hydrogen variant will be the first of its kind, manufactured and assembled at Toyota’s Derby-based facility and is scheduled for prototype production in 2023. Ricardo has been chosen as a partner by Toyota due to its proven experience in applying advanced propulsion technologies and expertise in hydrogen fuel cell integration, including for the UK’s first hydrogen transport hub.
Ricardo’s role in the project is to integrate the complete hydrogen fuel cell, fuel storage system, and controls including design, analysis, and validation. The integration ensures efficient operation of all systems to give an excellent vehicle range and supports attributes for longevity and reliability. Working as part of the consortium, Ricardo will support the delivery of a complete turnkey solution, which will create greater agility for Toyota in the UK supply base and a quicker turnaround in the design of low volume manufacturing.
This certainly looks like a co-operation between equals.
I have a few thoughts on the fuel cells.
The Wikipedia entry for the Toyota Mirai says this about the fuel cells for that car.
The first generation of Toyota FC Stack achieved a maximum output of 114 kW (153 hp). Electricity generation efficiency was enhanced through the use of 3D fine mesh flow channels. These channels—a world first, according to Toyota—were arranged in a fine three-dimensional lattice structure to enhance the dispersion of air (oxygen), thereby enabling uniform generation of electricity on cell surfaces. This, in turn, provided a compact size and a high level of performance, including the stack’s world-leading power output density of 3.1 kW/L (2.2 times higher than that of the previous Toyota FCHV-adv limited-lease model), or 2.0 kW/kg. Each stack comprises 370 (single-line stacking) cells, with a cell thickness of 1.34 mm and weight of 102 g. The compact Mirai FC stack generates about 160 times more power than the residential fuel cells on sale in Japan.[40] The Mirai has a new compact (13-liter), high-efficiency, high-capacity converter developed to boost voltage generated in the Toyota FC Stack to 650 volts.
As a rudimentary search of the Internet says that an entry-level HiLux has a 148 hp diesel engine, it seems that Toyota’s own fuel cells could be in the right ball park.
This second press release from Ricardo is entitled Hyzon And Ricardo To Deliver Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems For Commercial Vehicles.
These are the first two paragraphs.
Ricardo is a world-class environmental, engineering and strategic consulting company, is partnering with leading hydrogen vehicle supplier Hyzon Motors Inc. on developing and deploying commercial systems to support the decarbonisation of the global transport and energy sectors.
The companies announced today they will be working to combine Hyzon’s high-power-density fuel cell stack with Ricardo’s unrivaled software and controls, thermal management and proven track record advising customers on hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Note, that the press release dates from December 2021.
The last paragraph of the press release is probably the most significant.
The potential of the Hyzon-Ricardo engagement has already borne fruit with the debut of the Ricardo Vehicle Integrated Controls and Simulation (VICS) control system within the Hyzon fuel cell electric truck at the Advanced Clean Transportation conference in September. Moving forward, Ricardo will support Hyzon in a global capacity on the development and deployment of advanced energy management and propulsion systems to accelerate the realisation of net zero initiatives across all modes of transport.
Note.
- Have Ricardo used Hyzon fuel cells to create their hydrogen-powered bus? I wrote about this project in Ricardo Repowers Double Decker Diesel Bus With Hydrogen Fuel Cells.
- If Ricardo and Hyzon have been working together for a few years, the timescale would fit.
- As a Graduate Control Engineer, I know that with complex engineering systems of all kinds, good control is often hard to achieve. Perhaps, Ricardo have cracked it!
I can certainly see, Ricardo playing a similar role in the creation of Toyota’s Hydrogen HiLux.
Conclusion
It looks to me, that with their hydrogen deals with Toyota and Hyzon, Ricardo are converting themselves from a giant in the field of diesel engine technology to a significant player in the field of hydrogen power.
The Anonymous Widower 