Toyota and Hyundai broaden fuel-cell semi plans for US

Toyota and Hyundai this week introduced plans to broaden their respective U.S. hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck initiatives.

The Japanese automaker has been collaborating with truck maker PACCAR for a number of years on fuel-cell take a look at autos, however on Tuesday it an introduced an enlargement of the joint effort geared toward pushing fuel-cell vans towards manufacturing.

“The expanded settlement helps ongoing improvement and commercialized zero-emission variations of the Kenworth T680 and Peterbilt 579 fashions that includes Toyota’s hydrogen gasoline cell powertrain equipment,” a Toyota press launch stated, “with preliminary buyer deliveries deliberate for 2024.”

Each the Kenworth and Peterbilt manufacturers are a part of the PACCAR truck household.

Kenworth and Peterbilt vans with Toyota hydrogen fuel-cell modules

The Toyota-PACCAR undertaking builds on years of early efforts involving Kenworth vans being put to make use of in California, primarily round ports in Los Angeles and Lengthy Seaside to gauge their capability to cut back native emissions and enhance air high quality. Referred to as Venture Portal, this goes again to 2017.

“We’re excited to work with PACCAR to appreciate a future the place Toyota’s trade main hydrogen gasoline cell know-how can energy heavy-duty vans that may journey throughout highways all through the U.S. with zero emissions,” Christopher Yang, Toyota Motor North America group vp of enterprise improvement, stated in a press release.

The identical day as Toyota’s announcement, Hyundai debuted the model of its Xcient Gas Cell for the U.S. Hyundai in 2021 introduced plans to deliver this Class 8 truck to California for testing. The Xcient Gas Cell launched in 2020 and has already operated in Switzerland, Germany, Israel, South Korea, and New Zealand, overlaying greater than 4 million miles to date, in response to a Hyundai press launch.

Hyundai Xcient Gas Cell at 2023 ACT Expor

Hyundai introduced one of many vans to the Superior Clear Transportation (ACT) Expo in Anaheim, California, a 6×4 tractor (with six wheels, 4 of them powered) with a pair of 90-kw fuel-cell stacks and a 350-kw electrical motor. The Xcient is not simply hydrogen-powered; as a battery buffer it packs as a lot battery capability as a GMC Hummer EV. Hyundai estimates over 450 miles of vary when absolutely loaded, and a gross mixed weight ranking (GCWR) of 82,000 kilos.

The discharge additionally talked about an aspiration to “foster partnerships and future companies to offer fleet operation options for hydrogen truck clients,” together with some efforts associated to its deliberate EV “Metaplant” in Georgia, which is being constructed to supply as much as 300,000 EVs yearly, together with Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis fashions. Hyundai was mild on specifics, however there will definitely be lots of vans transferring out and in of a plant that giant.

Noticeably absent from this week’s bulletins, all timed for the Superior Clear Transportation (ACT) present in Anaheim, California, was Normal Motors. In 2021 the U.S. automaker introduced a joint effort with truck maker Navistar to construct and assist 2,000 long-haul hydrogen semis, every with a variety of greater than 500 miles and 15-minute refueling. On the time, Navistar stated take a look at autos would begin a pilot section by the top of 2022, with manufacturing following in 2024.