Toyota has chosen the streets of Melbourne as the “perfect place” to test its first low-emission hydrogen-powered commercial van.
The Toyota HiAce van prototype, revealed over the weekend, will be transporting workers from Melbourne building firm CPB contractors later this month in the nation’s first commercial test of hydrogen engines.
Promising lower emissions, quicker refuelling times and improved fuel efficiency over current diesel models, Toyota Australia president Matthew Callachor said the pilot program is an important step in growing Australia’s hydrogen economy.
“This technology offers the potential for Toyota to produce vehicles that meet the practical requirements of commercial customers while dramatically reducing CO2 tailpipe emissions,” Mr Callachor said.
“Toyota Australia is firmly committed to playing a leading role in the development of Australia’s hydrogen economy.
“Running the pilot program for this new hydrogen powertrain technology builds upon our substantial development and investment in the hydrogen space.”
Federal and State Governments have already committed $6.3 billion in funding for hydrogen projects under the National Hydrogen Strategy in an effort to hit the nation’s net-zero emissions target of 2050.
The HiAce prototype will have an estimated range of 200km and boast a modified version of the 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine used in the Lexus LX 600 and LandCruiser 300 series.
The new Hydrogen engine won’t completely eliminate emissions, but Toyota says the new tech will make a “significant improvement” on current diesel models.
“Hydrogen has near zero CO2 emissions [and], importantly, we have used proven petrol engine technologies, which means we can keep the supply chain we have built up over many years,” said Toyota Motor Corporation president of hydrogen projects Mitsumasa Yamagata at the vans reveal.
“While this vehicle is a prototype, the number of passengers, the luggage space and the proper towing performance are all the same as a standard car.
“Refuelling time is just five minutes, about the same as any other vehicle with an internal combustion engine.
“In other words, we have an affordable way of achieving near zero carbon emissions while also keeping the features that are most important to our customers.”
Yamagata also hinted at a similar hydrogen conversion for some of Australia’s most popular 4WDs, saying he would love to see the technology “spread its wings” into their top-selling LandCruiser or HiLux series.
The van will be one of only three hydrogen-powered vehicles tested on Australian roads, with Toyota’s Mirai sedan also being tested in Melbourne and Hyundai’s NEXO SUV tested in Canberra in 2021.
But where do you refuel?
Despite the exciting promise of the emerging technology, many hurdles still remain for hydrogen-powered vehicles – namely, the lack of refuelling infrastructure.
Only half a dozen Hydrogen depots have been developed across the country, making travelling more than a few hours away from Toyota’s refuelling facility in Altona impossible for the HiAce during the pilot program.
To solve this, Toyota and other leading companies in the hydrogen economy recently signed a memorandum of understanding to develop hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in Australia.
“We believe that the hydrogen powertrain technologies offer a practical solution to provide an ultra-low-emissions vehicle with long-distance range, heavy-duty off-road and towing capability,” said Mr Callachor.
“And once infrastructure is in place [we can provide the] fast refuelling that Australians want.
“It’s all about providing mobility solutions for all Australians to have the freedom to move.”
