Toyota Launches Beta Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck

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The latest hydrogen fuel cell truck to emerge from Toyota’s Project Portal 2.0 is capable of running for 300 miles at a time, emitting nothing but water vapor. (Photo courtesy of Toyota.)

Toyota announced recently that it has made great strides in its development of zero-emissions heavy-duty trucks. At the recent Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Management Briefing Seminars, the company unveiled its second-generation hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 truck, capable of travelling up to 300 miles between refueling stops.

The Road To Commercial Viability

Toyota’s Project Portal 2.0 program is the successor to the original Project Portal, which was responsible for creating the groundbreaking Alpha truck, one of the world’s first OEM-built zero-emission heavy trucks. This unique machine was powered by a first-generation hydrogen fuel cell that the company cobbled together from a pair of Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12-kilowatt-hours battery. It features a gross combined weight capacity of 80,000 pounds, a range of more than 200 miles (322 kilometers) per fill, and a 670-horsepower (500-kilowatt) engine. Since it hit the road in April 2017, the Alpha truck has driven more than 10,000 miles (16,093 kilometers) along the West Coast, emitting nothing more than harmless water vapor.

The new truck, Project Portal Beta, has the same torque and horsepower as the Alpha, but can drive for 50 percent more miles before making a refueling stop. The truck’s operator will also appreciate the addition of a sleeper cab and the redesigned fuel cabinet that yielded a roomier interior.

High Ambitions

Toyota isn’t about to rest on its laurels. In the future, the company plans to continue to invest heavily in the development of a consumer-facing hydrogen infrastructure as well as in making fuel cell vehicles affordable and viable for everyone. According to Craig Scott, senior manager for Toyota’s North American Electrified Vehicle & Technologies Office, “We want to help make a difference—a significant difference when it comes to the air quality not only in the LA area, but across the U.S. and around the globe.”

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Source: Toyota

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