Japanese auto giant Toyota and its subsidiary Hino announced on Tuesday that they would develop a hydrogen-powered electric truck for the North American market, with a first prototype slated for the first half of 2021.
This project follows another agreement between Toyota and Hino announced in March to develop a 25-tonne hydrogen-powered truck for the Japanese market.
While the hydrogen car market remains in its infancy, notably for lack of sufficient infrastructure, that of fuel cell trucks and buses could well lead the way, say industry analysts.
Because these vehicles generally have predictable routes, which could greatly facilitate the installation of hydrogen stations on their routes.
One of the world pioneers of fuel cell cars with its Mirai model, Toyota has also been involved in a pilot project for hydrogen trucks for the Port of Los Angeles since 2017.
Manufacturers' races towards hydrogen
Other major automotive groups are increasingly interested in the emerging market for hydrogen trucks, which do not cause CO2 emissions, while environmental regulations in Europe and California in particular are becoming more stringent.
The American General Motors has planned to take 11% of the capital of its compatriot Nikola, manufacturer of electric and hydrogen trucks, but the latter has been in turmoil for several weeks due to various scandals.
The German Daimler and the Swedish Volvo also joined forces in April to manufacture hydrogen engines for heavy vehicles, while the South Korean Hyundai also has ambitions in this segment.
The American manufacturer of electric vehicles Tesla, whose founder and boss Elon Musk hardly believes in the potential of hydrogen technology, is betting on battery-powered electric trucks.
