Toyota Motor Corporation and Hino Motors together with Seven-Eleven Japan, FamilyMart, and Lawson have agreed to jointly consider introducing light-duty fuel-cell electric trucks (light-duty FCETs). The goal is to establish an environment for widespread use in the future, targeting a sustainable society that respects global warming and energy diversification.
Growth in the demand for hydrogen will increase with fuel-cell commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, that use more hydrogen compared with passenger vehicles. With commercial vehicles, depending upon use, it is possible to know the driving range and to plan operations systematically, including handling of refueling with hydrogen. The five companies are also making efforts to promote the establishment of an environment for the popularization of fuel-cell vehicles, not only of light-duty trucks, but also of commercial and passenger vehicles.
AutoInformed readers might remember that it was the exclusion of Toyota from the Partnership of New Generation Vehicles, whose goal of the 80 mpg car never happened at the Detroit Three despite lavish taxpayer subsidies, that led Toyota with Japanese government support to developed the first practical hybrid vehicles. (AutoInformed: Toyota Global Hybrid Sales Exceed 10 Million)
Agreement Main Points
- In 2021, Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson will conduct a trial operation of light-duty FCETs (max. payload: 3 tons) jointly developed by Toyota and Hino, to verify practicality and convenience.
- In the evaluation of the trial operations, Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson will verify delivery by light-duty FCETs in logistics between multiple distribution centers and stores, to see whether continued trials are viable in 2022 and beyond, from the perspectives of businesses and the society. ( AutoInformed: Earth Day Milestones – History of Auto Air Pollution Regs)
- Following this, in 2022 and beyond, they will work to identify various issues relating to convenience, such as positioning of hydrogen stations, hydrogen supply, filling capability, and operating hours, in their actual use in the market, as well as the purchase of vehicles and cost of hydrogen fuel.
- The parties will propose improvements in addressing these issues, and collaborate with the national and local authorities, and hydrogen station operators, to advance discussions on the necessary support and cooperative systems required to build effective mechanisms that lead to reduced CO2 emissions through the future widespread introduction of FCETs.
In a release datelined Tokyo this morning, Toyota said truck operations underpin the daily logistics of convenience stores that support people’s daily lives. Delivery trucks distributing products such as pre-packed meals handle multiple delivery operations in one day and are required to drive long distances over extended hours. Fuel cell vehicles that run on hydrogen, which has a higher energy density, are considered effective under such operating conditions that require them to have sufficient cruising range and load capacity as well as fast refueling capability.
The cruising range for light-duty FCETs developed by Toyota and Hino will be set at approximately 400 km, aiming to meet “high standards in both environmental performance and transport efficiency expected as a commercial vehicle.”
However, issues remain for their full-scale introduction, including reduction of vehicle price and the cost of hydrogen, and improvement of the convenience of hydrogen stations.
They also aim to collaborate with the national and local authorities, and hydrogen station operators, investigating various measures through the operation of light-duty FCETs in logistics settings, to tackle improvements and to resolve issues.
Japan Inc: Toyota and Hino to Pioneer Light-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks with Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson
Toyota Motor Corporation and Hino Motors together with Seven-Eleven Japan, FamilyMart, and Lawson have agreed to jointly consider introducing light-duty fuel-cell electric trucks (light-duty FCETs). The goal is to establish an environment for widespread use in the future, targeting a sustainable society that respects global warming and energy diversification.
Growth in the demand for hydrogen will increase with fuel-cell commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, that use more hydrogen compared with passenger vehicles. With commercial vehicles, depending upon use, it is possible to know the driving range and to plan operations systematically, including handling of refueling with hydrogen. The five companies are also making efforts to promote the establishment of an environment for the popularization of fuel-cell vehicles, not only of light-duty trucks, but also of commercial and passenger vehicles.
AutoInformed readers might remember that it was the exclusion of Toyota from the Partnership of New Generation Vehicles, whose goal of the 80 mpg car never happened at the Detroit Three despite lavish taxpayer subsidies, that led Toyota with Japanese government support to developed the first practical hybrid vehicles. (AutoInformed: Toyota Global Hybrid Sales Exceed 10 Million)
Agreement Main Points
In a release datelined Tokyo this morning, Toyota said truck operations underpin the daily logistics of convenience stores that support people’s daily lives. Delivery trucks distributing products such as pre-packed meals handle multiple delivery operations in one day and are required to drive long distances over extended hours. Fuel cell vehicles that run on hydrogen, which has a higher energy density, are considered effective under such operating conditions that require them to have sufficient cruising range and load capacity as well as fast refueling capability.
The cruising range for light-duty FCETs developed by Toyota and Hino will be set at approximately 400 km, aiming to meet “high standards in both environmental performance and transport efficiency expected as a commercial vehicle.”
However, issues remain for their full-scale introduction, including reduction of vehicle price and the cost of hydrogen, and improvement of the convenience of hydrogen stations.
They also aim to collaborate with the national and local authorities, and hydrogen station operators, investigating various measures through the operation of light-duty FCETs in logistics settings, to tackle improvements and to resolve issues.