Hyliko, a French start-up, wants to use Toyota's second-generation hydrogen fuel cell modules in its zero-emission fleet of trucks. With this new partnership in the truck industry, Toyota can offer its fuel cell technology for hydrogen solutions in more areas, such as trains, buses, generators, and different types of marine applications.
To speed up the growth of zero-emission mobility with hydrogen, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) is expanding its fuel cell work to commercial vehicles. More specifically, Toyota thinks that trucks, which carry 77% of all goods on European roads, have a lot of room for growth. Since hydrogen systems are light, they can carry more cargo and be filled quickly so that they can be used for heavy transport more often. Because of how they are used and how much hydrogen they need, commercial trucks are key to making infrastructure more sustainable. Toyota is already working with many truck companies around the world to add fuel cell technology to heavy transport. The ZANZEFF "Shore to Store" project in the US recently showed that fuel-cell electric trucks could match the performance of diesel vehicles and offer a zero-emissions alternative ready for commercial use.
The partnership with Hyliko is also a step toward TME's European hydrogen value chain vision. It encourages both supply and demand to grow in ways that are good for the environment. As a key part of Europe's energy strategy, hydrogen energy is a top priority for TME when expanding different types of fuel cell applications within hydrogen value chains. TME's partnership strategy aims to find ways for different business sectors to work together. It also helps areas that want to grow into full-fledged hydrogen corridors.
The fuel cell truck made by Hyliko will come in two sizes: a 44t tractor and a 26t truck (available in 6x2 and 6x4 variants). Each of these trucks will have two fuel cell modules made by Toyota. Hyliko plans to make its own green hydrogen infrastructure, including production, storage, and distribution, as part of the deal to lease the truck.
"We're happy to say we've made a deal with Hyliko to sell them our fuel cell modules. Hyliko is a young company with a big plan for hydrogen. They want to offer all the most critical parts of a value chain, like a fuel cell truck and a leasing and maintenance program for delivering green hydrogen. Having a big picture and long-term view of the growth of hydrogen's value chains is vital for businesses to stay in business and for investors to feel safe. Together with partners like Hyliko, we will keep pushing eco-clusters around Europe toward a hydrogen society, which is one of the building blocks for becoming carbon neutral by 2040," Thiebault Paquet, Vice President of Toyota Motor Europe R&D2 and head of the Brencel cell business area in TME, says this.
The CEO of Hyliko, Ovarith Troeung, says: "We are thrilled to be working with Toyota, whose hydrogen technology will be in our first electric trucks. Toyota's fuel cell modules are important parts of our new hydrogen trucks. They are known for being reliable and good at what they do. In addition to our goal of making clean, efficient trucks for hauling freight on the road, we are still working on rolling out the key parts of our service, such as hydrogen truck leasing, maintenance, and fuel delivery. We can't wait to show off our new fuel cell truck soon. It will help us meet the goals for reducing carbon emissions in road freight transport, which is an important part of our economy." @via Hyliko.
