Toyota and other automotive companies to conduct verification tests on heavy-duty FCETs
October 24, 2020
Toyota Motor Corporation reports that along with Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., Seino Transportation Co., Ltd., NEXT Logistics Japan Co., Ltd. (NLJ), Yamato Transport Co., Ltd., and Hino Motors, Ltd., it will conduct on-the-road trials of heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks (heavy-duty FCETs) starting in spring 2022.
The companies believe that these verification tests will accelerate the early commercial application of heavy-duty FCETs and contribute to the development of “a sustainable society”.Toyota explained that this may be achieved by reducing CO2 emissions from heavy-duty FCETs, which are said to account for approximately 70% of all CO2 emissions from commercial vehicles in Japan.
The heavy-duty FCETs used in highway transportation must have adequate range and load capacity, as well as being able to refuel quickly. Fuel cell systems powered by high-energy-density hydrogen are believed to be effective for the electrification of heavy-duty trucks.
The heavy-duty FCETs in development are expected to have a target range of approximately 600 km. The objective is to meet high standards for both environmental performance and practicality as a commercial vehicle.
Toyota and Hino are jointly developing heavy-duty FCETs, and Asahi Group, NLJ, Seino Transportation, Yamato Transport, and Toyota will perform the road trials in their logistics operations.
