Toyota Installs SimpleFuel Station to its Plant, Generating Hydrogen Fuel using Solar Energy

Toyota has announced that it has newly introduced SimpleFuel to its Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, an electrolysis-based machine for hydrogen generation and filling that can produce, store, and supply hydrogen by making use of electricity generated from solar power.

SimpleFuel is a product of and jointly manufactured by IVYS Energy Solutions and PDC Machines in the U.S. It is a small water electrolysis-based machine for hydrogen generation and filling that can produce, store, and supply hydrogen by making use of electricity generated from solar power, a renewable energy resource.

The device is a simplified hydrogen station that uses electricity from solar panels at the plant site to produce low-carbon hydrogen from the electrolysis of water, which is then supplied to fuel-cell forklifts (FC forklifts) after it is compressed and pressurized. It can produce up to 99 Nm3/day (approx. 8.8 kg/day) of hydrogen, enough to fuel seven or eight FC forklifts. Its compact size means it can be installed in small spaces, making it suitable for refueling FC forklifts within the plant.

A hydrogen station has been running at the plant since March 2018, in conjunction with the increasing numbers of FC forklifts in use there. By working to support fuel through the use of the device, with an eye toward the rising demand for hydrogen, The company aims to reduce CO2 emissions at the plant and intends to support the accumulation of new technologies and knowledge.

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To reduce CO2 emissions at its plants, Toyota intends to replace existing conventional forklifts with fuel cell forklifts. This endeavour began at Motomachi Plant, with the introduction of two Toyota Industries Corporation FC forklifts in 2017, followed by an additional twenty in 2018.

This year, the Ministry of the Environment’s “Subsidy for Business Costs, etc. for Measures Combating Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Project to Promote Low Carbon Social Infrastructures that utilise Renewable Energy-based Hydrogen)” makes possible the introduction of SimpleFuel and an additional 50 FC forklifts.