Toyota introduced the event of a brand new Hilux prototype that includes a hydrogen gas cell powertrain sourced from the second-gen Mirai. Toyota’s first FCEV pickup will likely be constructed within the UK in 2023, by a consortium of technical engineering companions, utilizing funds from the UK Authorities.

The venture is a part of the Superior Propulsion Middle (APC), a government-led initiative for the event of zero-emission autos within the UK. The £11.3 million ($13.86) funding will cowl the bills of later-stage R&D, taking the product from the “proof of idea” to the “prototype” stage.

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Utilizing a Hilux as a base, the workforce will take away the diesel engine and drivetrain, changing them with a a lot cleaner setup. Toyota’s second-gen FCEV system together with the gas cells, the electrical motor, and the hydrogen tanks will likely be sourced from the Mirai, changing the Hilux right into a zero-emission pickup. Curiously this selection was chosen over the experimental hydrogen-fueled three-cylinder combustion engine discovered on Yaris and Corolla prototypes.

Toyota didn’t announce the specs of the Hilux H2, however the within the Mirai the powertrain produces 182 hp (136 kW / 185 PS) and 300 Nm (220 lb-ft) of torque, emitting water from its tailpipe. For comparability, the two.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine within the common Hilux produces 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 368 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. We additionally anticipate the Hilux H2 to supply AWD, in contrast to the Mirai which is RWD-only. As for the driving vary from the three hydrogen tanks, it’ll almost definitely be decrease than the 402 miles (647 km) of the Mirai because of the a lot worse aerodynamics and the elevated weight of the pickup.

For the conclusion of the Hilux H2, Toyota Motor Manufacturing will work with different UK-based corporations with the assistance of a Toyota Motor Europe R&D workforce. Engineering agency Ricardo will assist the technical integration of the gas cell elements to the ladder-frame chassis of the pickup, ETL will help in thermal administration options, D2H will provide engineering providers in thermodynamics, and Thatcham Analysis will work on crash security and insurance coverage scores.

The Toyota Hilux H2 prototypes will likely be constructed on the Burnaston plant in 2023. In response to Toyota, the aim is “to organize for small sequence manufacturing” and “examine a further software of the gas cell expertise in a automobile section that’s key to quite a few trade teams and can assist assist the sector’s transfer in the direction of decarbonization”.

The present eighth-generation Toyota Hilux is in its twilight years having debuted again in 2015, with two subsequent facelifts in 2017 and in 2020. The subsequent technology of the favored pickup will possible carry some type of electrification into the combo, though an FCEV mannequin sounds unlikely for mass manufacturing because of the limitations within the hydrogen refueling community. Nonetheless, working prototypes of the Hilux H2 sound actually cool and will present helpful insights for the long run. Most significantly, the venture will permit the concerned events to develop their experience in FCEV expertise and automobile conversion.