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.
The Anonymous Widower 