Toyota Hilux 2024: hydrogen fuel cell prototypes target 590km range

A battery electrical Toyota Hilux, utilizing as of late’s technology, simply wouldn’t net the diversity, towing capability or off-avenue skills to rival our recent diesel twin-cabs.

Alternatively, hydrogen fuel cell technology will seemingly be the reply, so the importance of this British-constructed, hydrogen-fuelled Hilux prototype pick-up can’t be understated.

Pictures of the dear instance net now been shown, and ten are supposed to be constructed earlier than the cease of the year.

And, somehow, a stout manufacturing hydrogen Hilux is the thought.

Toyota says these ten prototypes will “undergo rigorous testing all over the realm to verify that safety, dynamic efficiency, efficiency and sturdiness meet the high requirements required of a producing mannequin.”

It has an expected driving range of more than 590 kilometres, which is “vastly additional than will seemingly be accomplished with a battery electrical plan,” the Jap huge stated.

Toyota has long preached the advantages of a “multi-technology plan” for reaching its world aim of being carbon neutral by 2050.

Its powertrain solutions consist of hybrid electrical, crawl-in hybrid electrical, battery electrical and fuel cell electrical, with each focused on different user needs and operating environments worldwide.

What will all of us know about the hydrogen Hilux?

The UK-constructed Hilux Additional Cab has ditched the diesel and brought the core parts from Toyota’s Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electrical sedan.

The rear-wheel-drive automobile makes spend of three high-stress fuel tanks, mounted low within the chassis, below the Hilux’s ground. An on-board battery, which stores the electricity produced on-board by the fuel cell, is mounted within the rear load deck.

Toyota hasn’t stated as well-known, nonetheless while this doesn’t compromise cabin house, it’s going to also indicate sacrificing bath room. Its photos (conveniently) reveals the Hilux with a roller canopy over the bath, concealing what’s inner.

Whereas efficiency figures haven’t been published, the 2d generation Mirai offers 134kW/300Nm, powered by three hydrogen tanks which hang round three to five minutes to top off utilizing a industrial refueller. Tailpipe emissions are supreme pure water.

The official range for the Mirai is quoted at 650km nonetheless Toyota workers net travelled as much as 1360km on a single ‘tank’ in a outdated story strive.

The hydrogen Hilux has been produced by a consortium led by Toyota Manufacturing UK at its automobile plant in Derby, England. It bought UK Executive funding by capability of the Evolved Propulsion Centre (APC).

Toyota Australia needs a capable zero-emission Hilux

A Toyota Australia showcase tournament earlier this month confirmed the designate’s Hilux Revo BEV Conception.

This Thailand-constructed opinion is a stout electrical two-wheel-drive single-cab ute that’s “rapid range and metropolis-focused,” stated Toyota Australia’s vice president of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley.

Whereas this automobile has been evaluated by Toyota’s local engineers, it’s a ute aimed squarely on the South East Asian market, even though an Australia initiate wasn’t ruled out.

Our market in actuality demands an electrical Hilux that will closely match the abilities of the diesel version.

“What I’m in actuality placing out for is precisely the identical side each person’s asking the quiz about,” Hanley stated. “A load-carrying, trailer-towing, far-off house, off-avenue Hilux 4×4 with zero tailpipe emissions. What a automobile that will be.”

Stoking the fire of expectation, Hanely stated such a automobile was as soon as seemingly, and the UK’s hydrogen Hilux was as soon as a more realistic zero emissions resolution than battery electrical.

“Hydrogen offers gigantic range, it’s fully carbon neutral and it’s going to tow,” he stated. “And it’s going to take care of good and heavy stuff.”

Toyota has long championed hydrogen as an different fuel, evidenced by the Mirai now in its 2d generation. Retaining the technology aid, for now, is the mandatory infrastructure.

“The hydrogen horizon I mediate is round 2030 [or] 2035,” Hanley stated. “Easiest thanks to infrastructure, no longer necessarily thanks to technology.”

With Australia being a valuable Hilux market – and the mannequin our easiest-promoting automobile nationally – it can maybe seem seemingly one in every of the UK’s hydrogen Hilux prototypes will reach to Australia for the aforementioned worldwide testing.