Isuzu, Toyota, Hino, and CJPT To Make Mass-Market Light-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks

Isuzu Motors Limited, Toyota Motor Corporation, Hino Motors Ltd, and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT) have announced that they would jointly plan and develop light-duty fuel cell (FC) electric trucks for the mass-market.

The official statement by Toyota reads that the joint initiative will contribute to the realization of a hydrogen society and carbon neutrality by expanding the options for customer use and increasing the demand for hydrogen. The companies will encourage the introduction of FC electric trucks to the market with their widespread use.

The path to carbon neutrality offers diverse powertrains choices that meet customers’ demands. These entail HEVs, BEVs, and FCEVs. These depend on the energy conditions in various countries and regions and how customers use their vehicles.

Toyota says that light-duty trucks are majorly used for distribution in supermarkets and convenience stores. Along with being equipped with refrigeration and freezing functions, these vehicles are needed to traverse long distances over extended hours to perform multiple delivery operations in a day. At the same time, they must also boast of fast refueling capability.

“The use of FC technology, which runs on high energy density hydrogen and has zero carbon dioxide emissions while driving, is considered effective under such operating conditions,” Toyota says.

As per the statement, CJPT will look after the planning of the jointly developed mass-market light-duty FC electric trucks. The said companies will together mobilize their combined knowledge for the upgradation of light-duty trucks. It has been informed that the truck technology has been accumulated over the years by Isuzu and Hino and Toyota has its FC technology.

The new truck will be unveiled in the market after January 2023. It will be used by the partners at actual distribution sites in Fukushima Prefecture and Tokyo social implementation projects.