Toyota hydrogen truck prototype ride
Toyota is experimenting with a new Hydrogen-powered trailer truck, hoping to provide a sustainable alternative for diesel trucks.
Car makers are still indecisive when it comes to hydrogen-powered cars, while being a viable alternative to electric batteries, the lack of infrastructure and technical complexity keep hydrogen-powered vehicles away from production lines.
However, that didn't stop some car manufacturers from testing hydrogen cell technology on larger vehicles, a segment where it may have a better chance of reaching the mass production phase.
The most recent experiment is that of Toyota, where they took a regular diesel-powered Kenworth T680, took out the fuel-thirsty beast, and replaced it with an electric motor, fueled by Hydrogen cells placed behind the cabin. For this test, Toyota used a four-speed automated-manual transmission.
It is true that using exposed large hydrogen cells sounds like a safety hazard, but Toyota is fully aware of the risks and has conducted extensive safety tests to make sure that the setup is 100 percent safe, to put you in the picture, Toyota has shot at the vessels using .50 caliber bullets and it didn’t explode as one may imagine.
Riding the hydrogen-powered cabin is a mixed experience; you instantly feel the power pushing the rig around with ease, leaving no doubt that the new powertrain will be up to the test when put in real-life situations.
The stark difference between diesel and hydrogen trucks is the eerie silence inside the cabin, when the truck starts moving there’s no audible indication that something is happening under the hood; all you can hear while sitting there is the squeaking and jostling of some unsteady parts.
From what we could understand, Toyota is not interested in the Truck building business. The carmaker is focusing on the development of light electric vehicles, building on the experiences it gained from the Prius, Tundra, or Mirai programs. The rig hydrogen power train will be a separate product delivered to other truck makers with more experience in this special segment.
Another major question that’s floating around right now is the hydrogen cell life expectancy. How long will a hydrogen-powered rig live? Toyota claims that there’s no noticeable longevity difference between a hydrogen truck and its diesel counterpart. Besides, the maintenance of the hydrogen one will be almost entirely limited to changing air filters, and that’s a major selling point that should attract large fleet operators.
In reality, no one knows how well the hydrogen trucks will perform until they’re put in real-life situations on public roads. And that is still a few years away, given the lack of infrastructure. What could happen instead is that the hydrogen trucks remain confined to shipyards and areas where only short commutes are required. Excluding them from long-distance trips where fueling infrastructure will be needed.
Toyota’s new powertrain is expected to enter production next year, but the company is yet to announce any partnerships with truck makers. In the end, only time will reveal if the hydrogen solution will prevail in long distance trucking.
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