Toyota plans to introduce a fuel-cell LandCruiser in Australia by 2035, endorsing a hydrogen future.
Toyota is leading the way in bringing hydrogen technology to Australia, showing its dedication to being eco-friendly and innovative. They see the Mirai as the new standard for green driving. Sean Hanley, who handles sales and marketing for Toyota in Australia, said the Mirai could be like the Prius was for hybrid cars.
Toyota is also planning to sell Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) through their dealerships soon. Hanley strongly believes in hydrogen's importance for Toyota in Australia.
He said, 'Yes, it's crucial! We have the technology and the vehicles, even though there's only one model right now. But remember, we started with just one hybrid, and now we've sold over 400,000. It took a while, but it's become very popular.'
Toyota's Plans for Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles
Toyota's focus on hydrogen and the Mirai shows their commitment to a greener future. They're aiming for hydrogen-powered cars to become a big thing on Australian roads by 2035 and beyond. Toyota is thinking about the future of big, tough vehicles like the HiLux and the LandCruiser 300 Series. They're considering two ways to make these vehicles better: using electricity and using hydrogen.
Last October, Toyota showed off a cool design called the LandCruiser Se. It's like a sneak peek at what an all-electric LandCruiser could look like. It's not a real car yet, but Toyota Australia is excited about the idea and wants to be a leader in making it happen.
But there's another idea floating around, too: using hydrogen to power these big vehicles. Toyota has been quietly working on this technology, which could also be used in the LandCruiser. This hydrogen stuff is good for vehicles that need to carry heavy loads and pull trailers.
The boss at Toyota's hydrogen factory, Mitsumasa Yamagata, says they're looking into how to make this hydrogen technology work for big vehicles like the LandCruiser. Toyota is serious about finding cleaner ways to power its famous vehicles.
As cars become cleaner, Toyota wants to stay ahead of the game. They're exploring new ideas like electric and hydrogen power for their big trucks and SUVs. With these changes, Toyota's legendary vehicles could become even better for the environment.
Toyota's Hydrogen HiAce Prototype
The Toyota’s Hydrogen HiAce prototype shows Toyota's innovative venture into alternative fuel sources, showcasing a modified version of the 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 petrol engine found in the LandCruiser 300 Series and Lexus LX 600 in Australia.
This hydrogen-fueled variant of the V6 engine delivers 120kW of power and 354Nm of torque, which is notably lower than its petrol-fueled counterpart by 185kW and 296Nm.
The heart of the Hydrogen HiAce lies in its three hydrogen fuel tanks, reminiscent of those utilized in the current Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV). With a total hydrogen capacity of 5.6kg, Toyota estimates a range of approximately 200km for the prototype, although this pales in comparison to the Mirai's NEDC claimed range of 650km.
While specific technical details about the Hydrogen HiAce prototype remain scarce, it boasts a commendable 1500kg towing capacity with minimal compromise on payload and internal space.
Toyota is committed to advancing this hydrogen-combustion technology for larger vehicles. Efforts are underway to enhance the size of hydrogen storage tanks, optimize combustion processes, and explore hybrid technology integration to further improve performance and efficiency.
As Toyota continues to push the boundaries of sustainable mobility, the Hydrogen HiAce prototype stands as a testament to their dedication to greener transportation solutions, setting the stage for a promising future in hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Toyota's Hydrogen-Powered Performance Cars
Toyota isn't just looking at making big vehicles run on hydrogen, they're also testing out hydrogen in fast cars. One example is the GR Yaris H2 they showed off in 2021. It's like the Hydrogen HiAce prototype but for a sporty car.
The GR Yaris H2 has a special system to use hydrogen instead of regular fuel. Underneath its cool looks, it has a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine designed to work with hydrogen. It's similar to the regular GR Yaris, so it's easy to switch to hydrogen power.
Just like the Mirai, the GR Yaris H2 has special hydrogen tanks and a way to refill them. Toyota has been working on this technology since 2017, but it's still not ready for everyday use.
To make sure their hydrogen cars are best, Toyota is testing them in tough races like the Super Taikyu series in Japan. They're using a hydrogen-powered Corolla Sport in these races to see how well it performs.
Fuel cell electric cars are great because they can go a long way without needing to refuel often. Toyota is now looking into making smaller versions of these cars for light-duty use. They recently showed off a prototype of a hydrogen-powered Hilux pickup truck. It was made by a group led by Toyota in the UK. It shows how a fuel cell can be used in a pickup truck. Because hydrogen is light, these light-duty fuel cell cars can carry more weight and tow heavier loads compared to other eco-friendly options.
Toyota has also been working on using its fuel cell technology in bigger trucks for a while. They've started selling hydrogen-powered trucks in Europe, made by companies like Hyliko in France and VDL Groep in the Netherlands. Toyota will use these trucks to make their own delivery operations more eco-friendly. They're also teaming up with Corvus in Norway to use their fuel cell technology in boats. Additionally, a French company called GCK will use Toyota's fuel cells to turn diesel buses into hydrogen-powered ones, cutting down on pollution.
Toyota is always looking for new ways to make cars better and more eco-friendly. With their hydrogen-powered sports cars, they're showing that fast cars can also be green.
