Toyota is putting a lot of faith in hydrogen, and now they’re showcasing the first prototype of a hydrogen-powered Hilux with fuel cell technology. The pickup truck was developed at Toyota’s factory in Derby, England, in a collaborative project with British companies Ricardo, ETL, D2H, and Thatcham Research.
The project receives financial development support from the UK government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre. The powertrain consists of second-generation fuel cell components, the same technology used in the Toyota Mirai. Hydrogen is stored in three high-pressure tanks. The hybrid battery, which stores excess electricity generated by the fuel cell, is positioned at the rear of the vehicle to optimize cabin space.
The expected range is around 600 km, and a full refueling is estimated to take between 4-5 minutes. The prototype seen here is the first of ten vehicles to be built before the year’s end. The cars will undergo various tests to ensure that safety, dynamic performance, functionality, and durability meet the high requirements for a production model. Afterward, we’ll see if this becomes something available for purchase or not.
