Two years after the first demonstration truck, Toyota Motor Europe has now taken delivery of its fifth VDL hydrogen fuel cell truck, which its logistics partners will use in a five-year test. The trucks will drive between Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, delivering parts with zero tailpipe emissions.
VDL Groep manufactures Toyota’s new fuel cell trucks. They’re converted DAF 40-ton trucks using Toyota fuel cell modules, which give them a range of around 400 km.
This is more than enough for the drive between Toyota Motor Europe’s parts distribution center in Diest (Belgium) and the daily routes to Lille (France), Cologne (Germany), Rotterdam, and Weesp (the Netherlands).
Is hydrogen still viable for commercial vehicles?
Two years ago, Toyota took delivery of the first demonstration model built by VDL Special Vehicles. While battery-electric trucks have since then caught up, with ranges of 500 to 600 km on a single charge, Toyota remains a big proponent of hydrogen fuel cell technology.
The Japanese manufacturer has, however, recently decided that hydrogen makes more sense for commercial vehicles. The increased range potential, higher payload, and shorter refueling times compared to recharging a battery-electric truck or van mean more uptime, which is essential in the commercial market.
However, more and more hydrogen specialists are struggling to survive, as batteries seem to become the favored zero-carbon solution. Renault’s Hyvia and truckmaker Nikola both need restructuring, to name but a couple. Although Hyundai still believes, like Toyota, in having just presented the new Nexo FCEV SUV.
Some experts even claim that there aren’t enough materials on the planet to support a global hydrogen economy. Dr. Quentin Meyer, President of the Fuel Cell Division at the International Association for Hydrogen Energy, states in an interview with Energy Circles that there are only 60,000 tons of platinum on Earth. That’s a crucial catalyst for fuel cells. He also claims that fuel cell technology is not yet sufficiently developed for long-term operation, especially at a reasonable cost.
Together with transport companies and external partners
Toyota has partnered with its logistics providers Vos Transport Group, CEVA Logistics, Groupe CAT, and Yusen Logistics to introduce these VDL hydrogen trucks to its logistics operations. Toyota will assess the use of hydrogen fuel cell trucks during this 5-year test run, in theory.
“This initiative is in line with Toyota’s goal to reach carbon neutrality in its logistics operations by 2040, but it also aims to contribute to growing the hydrogen economy. Heavy-duty fuel cell trucks can boost the demand for hydrogen, which is one of the key contributors, along with the implementation of the EU’s Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR),” says Thiebault Paquet, Vice President R&D, Toyota Motor Europe.
“Together with our logistics providers, we aim to gather learnings from the daily operation of our first hydrogen-powered logistics fleet and further improve the vehicles and operational processes.”
Last year, Toyota also found an external partner to test out its hydrogen fuel cells in a heavy truck. The Japanese manufacturer has provided Coca-Cola with one of the VDL trucks to use in its long-haul European logistics. At the same time, specialist Air Liquide delivers the hydrogen to power the truck.
