Toyota has unveiled its new third-generation hydrogen fuel-cell technology at the international H2 & FC Expo (hydrogen & fuel cell) in Tokyo, Japan.
What will the new system be used for?
Toyota says the third-gen fuel cell is “designed to meet the particular needs of the commercial sector, with the same durability as conventional diesel-powered engines”, thanks to improvements made in performance and fuel efficiency, all while representing a significant reduction in production costs compared to the second-gen unit.
The Japanese company does say it will also be used in passenger vehicles, which might hint that the Mirai model will continue, but it has also recently gone on record as saying the future of personal cars isn’t geared towards hydrogen, so other applications of the new fuel cell will be in heavy-duty commercial vehicles. It is planned for introduction in markets across Japan, Europe, North America and China beyond 2026.
Why does Toyota not think hydrogen is a big part of the future of cars?
The company has long been one of the chief advocates of hydrogen fuel-cell technology, developing systems in conjunction with BMW and producing what is seen as the standard-bearer of hydrogen cars, the Mirai, since 2014. It still views the fuel source as an important part of long-term carbon neutrality and says it is “actively collaborating with partners across various industries” on the fuel type.
But the Mirai has been on sale for 11 years now and, across 30 international territories, Toyota has sold just 28,000 of them - roughly 2,500 cars a year. That doesn’t nearly cover the significant development costs, while there are continuing issues with the global infrastructure (i.e. filling stations) for hydrogen cars, so it is more likely that this new fuel cell will see far wider applications in commercial vehicles than it will in models you can buy in Toyota’s showrooms.
Will the commercial applications satisfy Toyota’s fuel-cell requirements?
Hopefully. Since 2019, Toyota has been supplying fuel cells for use in buses, trains and stationary power generators, with more than 2,700 units going to in excess of 100 customers worldwide. In its homeland of Japan, it works with partners in the Tokyo and Fukushima prefectures to help create ‘hydrogen societies’ in the commercial sector.
With the new third-gen fuel cell, Toyota says it is twice as durable as the previous generation of the tech, which is why it can now compare to diesel engines - and hopefully replace them in buses and trucks - and it has 20 per cent more cruising range thanks to its superior fuel economy.