Toyota is switching the focus of its hydrogen fuel-cell technology development from passenger cars to commercial vehicles.
Technical chief Hiroki Nakajima confirmed the change in approach at the Tokyo motor show.
The Japanese firm has long been a pioneer of FCEV technology, most notably with the Toyota Mirai, but wider uptake of hasn’t materialised, partly due to the complexity of setting up a network of hydrogen fuelling stations.
“We have tried Mirai but not been successful,” said Nakajima. “Hydrogen stations are very few and difficult to realise, so Mirai is smaller [in volume].”
However, commercial vehicles are considered far more suitable for hydrogen, not only due to the unsuitability of batteries to power them (due to the size and weight that would be needed) but also the ability to set up a more controlled fuelling network.
“For mid-size trucks, it’s easy to deliver [a refuelling network], as it’s mainly A to B,” said Nakajima. “Huge numbers of trucks go from A to B, so you can operate stations with more stability. Commercial vehicles are the most important area to try to proceed on with hydrogen.”
However, Nakajima said Toyota “didn’t want to give up on [hydrogen] passenger cars” and was looking at ways to downsize components including the fuel cell stack and the tanks in order to make it applicable to different types of cars and broaden its appeal.
Pick-up trucks also offer a potential use for hydrogen, believes Nakajima.
He also provided more details on Toyota’s battery development, which will result in the firm launching its solid-state battery technology in 2027 or 2028.
This future technology has long been considered a game-changer for battery electric vehicles, having the potential to improve power density of batteries and thus reduce the size, weight and cost of them.