The Anonymous Widower

Gazoo Racing Accelerate Preparations For Their 2027 Dakar Rally FCEV Challenge

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Toyota.

These five bullet points act as sub-headings.

  • Build-up of the new DKR GR FC Hilux, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) * that Gazoo Racing will enter in the 2027 Dakar Rally, has been completed ahead of its dynamic test programme.
  • Dania Akeel has been selected to drive in testing and in the Dakar Future Mission 1000 category of the 2027 Dakar Rally
  • The DKR GR FC Hilux – Producing no tailpipe CO₂ when driven* – features two fuel cell stacks and high-pressure hydrogen tanks.
  • The project is part of Toyota’s multipath approach to exploring alternative powertrain technologies, with the aim of developing insights that could contribute to reducing tailpipe CO₂ emissions in motorsport and future road cars.

The technical profile in the press release is fairly detailed and starts like this.

Based on the same platform as the DKR GR Hilux, the DKR GR FC Hilux uses the same tubular frame, safety cell, suspension and brakes. It is equipped with a high-output unit that combines two fuel cell stacks into a single system and uses the same high-pressure hydrogen tanks as Mirai, Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell saloon.

It also gives some other figures from the specification.

  • Powertrain – 2 x fuel cells – Controlled by IAV ECU
  • System output – 400 kW
  • Fuel capacity –  8.4kg total
  • Overall weight < 2,500 Kg.

I don’t think this is a vehicle for softies.

 

 

October 22, 2026 Posted by | Hydrogen, Sport, Transport/Travel | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Plans To Produce 3,000 Hydrogen-Powered Hilux Pick-Up Trucks A Year In Thailand

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on HydrogenInsight.

This is the sub-heading.

Thai government agency approves project to produce the vehicles for export to Europe and Australasia

These three paragraphs add more details.

Thai government agency Board of Investment (BOI) has approved a 1.4bn-baht ($41.7m) project led by Japanese automaker Toyota to build thousands of hydrogen vehicles in the country.

The project, which aims to be operational in December 2027, targets an annual production capacity of 3,000 hydrogen-powered Toyota Hilux pick-up trucks for export to Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Production of the fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) will take place at the Toyota Ban Pho plant in Chachoengsao province, southern Thailand, where there is an existing Hilux production line.

I believe that these vehicles will be a winner, once they get the fuel strategy sorted.

October 19, 2026 Posted by | Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , | Leave a comment

Toyota Confirms Hydrogen Hilux For 2028 With 248 Mile Range

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Motor1.

This is the sub-heading.

Hilux FCEV production starts in 2028 for European fleets, with 248 miles of range, strong towing, and five-minute refueling pitches

These two paragraphs give more details.

Toyota just put a number on the hydrogen Hilux, and it is bigger than anything the electric version can manage. At IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover the automaker outlined plans for a Hilux fuel cell model targeting a 2028 launch for European professional customers.

The target is 248 miles of WLTP range and 5,512 pounds of towing, plus roughly a five-minute refuel when a station is operating normally. That is a work truck pitch built to beat the battery-electric Hilux on the two numbers that matter most to fleets.

It looks to me, that Toyota have done their research on the specification.

I can verify, that a lot of horsey folk and farmers will find it fits their needs well.

September 18, 2026 Posted by | Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Shock Admission: Electric HiLux And 4WDs Won’t Suit Mainstream Buyers Until Battery Tech Leaps Forward

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on EVCentral.

These are the three introductory paragraphs.

Toyota says electric utes and 4WDs are still years away from suiting mainstream, consumer-facing applications like touring and towing.

The admission came from Toyota Australia’s engineering team, speaking at the recent HiLux BEV and LandCruiser 300 Performance Hybrid briefing.

Toyota Australia’s product planning chief Ray Munday said battery energy density remains the single biggest obstacle standing between today’s electric utes and something capable of doing what a diesel HiLux or LandCruiser can do.

EVCentral also has an article entitled Toyota boss exults in Australian launch of new HiLux EV in 2026, hydrogen HiLux coming in 2028.

I hope, I’m still here in 2028, so I can have a ride in a hydrogen HiLux.

July 20, 2026 Posted by | Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota To Enter Hydrogen-Powered Car In 2027 Dakar Rally

The title of this post, is the same as that of an article on autosport.

This is the sub-heading.

Toyota will field a fuel cell-powered prototype alongside its regular petrol-engined Hilux in the Dakar.

These two paragraphs add more details.

Toyota’s Gazoo Racing arm has announced plans to field a hydrogen-powered prototype in the 2027 Dakar Rally.

Christened the DKR GR FC Hilux, the car incorporates fuel cell technology into the pick-up that has become the benchmark in the World Rally-Raid Championship.

As someone, who worked in a hydrogen factory in the 1960s, I find this a very positive development for the use of hydrogen.

July 9, 2026 Posted by | Hydrogen, Sport, Transport/Travel | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Hydrogen Cars At Le Mans

I gave the title of this post to Google AI and this is what I received.

Toyota is aggressively pushing hydrogen technology at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, moving beyond concepts to on-track public demonstrations of the TR LH2 Racing Prototype. Powered by a liquid-hydrogen combustion engine, the vehicle aims to showcase the viability of hydrogen as a near-zero emission fuel in endurance racing.

The TR LH2 Racing Prototype

The Vehicle: Built on the same chassis as Toyota’s TR010 HYBRID. It acts as a dedicated technology development platform to test hydrogen performance under extreme endurance conditions.

On-Track Debut: The prototype officially took to the track for demonstration laps at the 13.626km Circuit de la Sarthe during the 94th Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Drivers: The vehicle was driven in special dynamic sessions by former Le Mans winner Kazuki Nakajima.

The Competition: Toyota’s demos also featured other pioneering hydrogen machines, including the Alpine Alpenglow and the Ligier Bosch JS2 RH2.

Long-Term Vision & Infrastructure

Timeline:  The ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) is targeting the introduction of an official hydrogen class at Le Mans, with race entries potentially slated for upcoming endurance racing seasons.

Hydrogen Village: During the race week, Toyota highlighted the full hydrogen ecosystem.

Fans could explore the Hydrogen Village, which featured a functional TotalEnergies 700-bar liquid hydrogen refueling station.

Fuel Cell Support: Toyota’s commitment expanded to race operations, with official team staff and drivers utilizing hydrogen fuel cell buses and Toyota Hilux Fuel Cell prototypes during the event week.

Toyota seem serious about hydrogen.

June 17, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Design, Hydrogen, Sport, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Won’t Give Up On Hydrogen, Teams Up With Truck Giants

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on TorqueCafe.

This is the sub heading.

Japanese car giant Toyota has signed a non-binding MoU to collaborate with Daimler Truck and Volvo Group on hydrogen fuel cells.

These three paragraphs add more details.

Toyota just won’t let its hydrogen-fuelled dreams die, this week announcing it wants to further develop fuel cell technology with two big players in the heavy vehicle market.

Daimler Truck (makers of Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Western Star and Fuso trucks) and the Volvo Group (responsible for Volvo, Mack and Renault trucks), already have a joint venture, cellcentric, which Toyota has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to join.

Split between equal shareholding, a joint press release said “the combination of the parties’ complementary experience and know-how will support and advance their joint objective to develop, produce and commercialise fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and other heavy-duty applications with comparable requirements”.

The rest of the article gives a summary of where Toyota are with hydrogen.

It is worth a thorough read.

Backing hydrogen you have Centrica, Ceres, Cummins, Daimler, Hyundai, JCB, INEOS, Kia, Ryse, Volvo, Wrightbus and a few others.

Will they prevail against a cynical world?

I think it will be one iconic vehicle, that excites the world. I will nominate.

  • A 1000 km. range hydrogen-powered coach from Mercedes, Solaris, Volvo or Wrightbus.
  • A large American-style pickup from Dodge with a Cummins engine or from Toyota.
  • A large American-style truck.
  • A remodelling of the iconic London new Routemaster bus with a hydrogen Cummins engine by Wrightbus.
  • A small affordable hydrogen hatchback from the French, Toyota or the Koreans, based on a fuel cell and an electric transmission.

When I was a child the icon was a dragline called Big Geordie, who is shown in this video.

I suspect for some of the mining projects in the world today, a hydrogen-powered Big Geordie would make a good fist of it.

April 2, 2026 Posted by | Hydrogen, Manufacturing, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

November 16, 2025 Posted by | Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

November 4, 2025 Posted by | Design, Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

  1. Ricardo are a well-respected environmental and engineering consultancy, who probably know more about powering vehicles, than most companies have forgotten.
  2. Thatcham Research is the motor insurers’ automotive research centre.
  3. 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.

September 5, 2023 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment