Toyota announces hydrogen-powered truck

Toyota has stepped up to the plate when it comes to clean automobiles designed to cut down on emissions.

Toyota has announced its ‘Project Portal’ hydrogen fuel cell system, designed for heavy-duty trucks at the Port of Los Angeles.

For environment watchers looking at zero-emissions trucking, this is a rather big deal, in the form of a feasibility study, where project leaders will examine the potential fuel cell technology as used for heavy-duty applications.

This is about Toyota rolling out its proof-of-concept prototype truck, which is a zero-emission, exhaust-free, hydrogen fuel cell semi truck.

Project Portal is in partnership with the Port of Los Angeles, said John Voelcker in Green Car Reports.

The information was relayed at a press conference with Port officials and representatives from California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC).

The zero-emission truck proof of concept will take part in a feasibility study. The study will examine the potential of fuel cell technology in heavy duty applications. The study will begin this summer.

The company’s announcement asked readers to ‘Picture the 710 Freeway heading south – bumper to bumper semis hauling cargo to and from the bustling Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Now imagine those trucks are moving that cargo, quietly, quickly and without producing any emissions. Toyota is working to make this vision a reality’.

Takehito Yokoo, Senior Executive Engineer with Toyota Motor Research and Development, told Forbes they are using a hydrogen fuel cell and motor, where the exhaust emission is zero, with only water vapor coming out. Forbes’ Alan Ohnsman reported on the 18-wheeler designed to haul cargo at the Port of Los Angeles—that is, hauling cargo offloaded from ships to rail distribution centers.

Voelcker described the Port of Los Angeles as, “long a hotspot of diesel emissions and particulates from the thousands of tractor-trailer units loading and unloading at the huge shipping facility.”

For now, this is a test of the technology and Toyota has not committed to turning the truck power system into a commercial program, Yokoo said in Forbes.

Bengt Halvorson in Car and Driver said similarly that it is a work in progress but, he added, “one that will be working very hard daily. The fuel-cell stacks in this proof-of-concept vehicle are fitted with just the necessary cooling systems, according to Yokoo, and the study aims to find out what additional measures might be required to maintain durability in this very different use cycle.”

Ohnsman in Forbes said the truck “should average 200 miles per fueling of compressed hydrogen gas.”

Halvorson said, “That’s long enough to cover a day of existing port operations.”

The press announcement carried some technical details. The truck generates more than 670 horsepower and 1325 pound feet of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery. The release said this was ‘a relatively small battery’ to support class 8 load operations. The gross combined weight capacity was listed as 80,000lbs, with its estimated driving range as ‘more than’ 200m per fill, under normal drayage operation.

Mary Nichols, chair, CARB, stated that CARB will follow the progress of this feasibility study with interest. They want to develop “the best mix of regulations and incentives to rapidly expand the market for the cleanest, most efficient big trucks to meet the need for dramatic change in the freight sector.”

In the bigger picture, Car and Driver said that Toyota has its eyes on hydrogen-related technology.

“Company president Akio Toyoda has declared that hydrogen represents the next 100 years for the company.”

Halvorsen wrote, “For Toyota, it could be that local fleets and heavy haulers are a great way to hedge its bets on hydrogen.”