Hydrogen

Toyota is one the biggest advocates for hydrogen as a fuel source for vehicles, but it’s now focusing its efforts as the mass-market take-up, especially in the passenger car space, still lags.As reported by Nikkei Asia, the Japanese carmaker is doubling down on implementing its hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) technology in commercial vehicles, like trucks.The reason for this is that demand for hydrogen-fuelled passenger cars is dwindling.Toyota is working with many partners in order to implement and scale its hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles.One example is the Japanese carmaker is working closely with the Japanese Government to use hydrogen fuel cell trucks and develop a refuelling station network.“I truly believe now is the time to accelerate our hydrogen initiatives together with partners. Let's change the future with hydrogen,” said Toyota Hydrogen Factory President Mitsumasa Yamagata to Nikkei Asia.Many carmakers have shunned hydrogen as a viable fuel source. Examples include Volkswagen, Stellantis and General Motors.Reasons for this vary but include the high costs associated with developing FCEV technology and producing hydrogen, as well lacklustre refuelling infrastructure, among others.Toyota, along with other brands like BMW and Hyundai are some of the few that have continued development in this space.The Japanese carmaker has been preaching its multi-pathway strategy for decarbonisation for years now and includes continued development in internal-combustion, hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen powertrain technologies.Toyota currently has one FCEV truck in the form of the Hino Profiz Z FCV as Hino is part of the Toyota Group.It uses two fuel cell stacks from the Toyota Mirai FCEV liftback that have been customised for heavy-duty commercial use.Hino claims this FCEV truck has a driving range of around 650km when fully loaded and refuelling takes between 15 and 30 minutes.As it currently stands Toyota doesn’t offer any FCEV vehicle to the public in Australia. The Mirai is only offered to select fleets through lease agreements.However, the Japanese carmaker has previously confirmed it plans to introduce a FCEV version of the HiLux in Australia in 2027. This will be available to the public but will be aimed at commercial fleets, much like the recently priced HiLux BEV.In Australia there are very few hydrogen refuelling stations currently. There are several initiatives and funding from state governments being put forward to scale this.One includes the $20 million Hume Hydrogen Highway initiative from the Victorian and New South Wales Governments to connect Melbourne and Sydney with around four refuelling stations along the Hume Highway.

The once highly-promising hydrogen-powered car technology now appears to be faltering as it lags behind other new energy technologies, according to reports. Nikkei Asia has reported annual sales of hydrogen vehicles decreased by more than 80 per cent since 2021, with the supporting infrastructure available also decreasing.Hydrogen vehicles more commonly take the form of fuel cell vehicles (FCV), using compressed hydrogen gas to power a fuel cell, which converts hydrogen into electricity to power it. This method means only water is emitted into the atmosphere, while offering similar refuelling times and driving range to internal combustion vehicles, but with EV performance.This technology is only found in a few vehicles, such as the Toyota Mirai sedan and the Hyundai Nexo SUV. Honda was one of the first brands to explore the potential of hydrogen technology more than 20 years ago, with its FCX sedan. Toyota has been heavily investing in hydrogen-powered cars, recently focussing on a different angle: hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engines. This system repurposes compressed hydrogen as an injectable substance into the combustion chamber without emitting CO2.Charging times for electric vehicles remain a key point of discussion in their viability for mass usage, which makes this alternative hydrogen technology an interesting prospect.It now looks like the refuelling benefits over EVs are becoming more of a moot point with the scarcity of hydrogen refuelling points and their limited uptake. Australia does not have a hydrogen model on sale to the general public, with only some available on leasing deals, including the Mirai and Nexo. There are less than 20 hydrogen refuelling stations currently in Australia.According to Nikkei Asia, new FCV sales in Japan decreased by 83 per cent last year in comparison to 2021, with only 431 units finding new homes.These stuttering sales numbers are causing major players to retreat in their hydrogen plans, including Stallantis that discontinued development citing "no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability."Honda and General Motors have also severed ties on their hydrogen joint-venture, which has been running since 2013 and included production of the CR-V e:FCEV. This does not mean hydrogen is off the cards, with Toyota and Hyundai still proceeding with FCV projects over the next two years. Hyundai in particular intends to double down on the technology, with a new-generation Nexo having already launched in its South Korean home market.

After it received Federal Government approval for local sale this week, a Hyundai Australia spokesperson has told CarsGuide its second-generation (NH2) Nexo fuel cell electric SUV is “launching Down Under in 2026”.

Australians love diesel-powered vehicles, but according to Toyota, it isn’t a fuel source of the future.

Hot off the back of the BMW iX3 reveal, the German carmaker is expected to reveal a new 3 Series sedan and then a new X5 large SUV.

Toyota Australia’s is serious about hydrogen as a low- or no-emission source of power for transport.

Could the HiLux go hydrogen-powered? Toyota said it has developed a more durable and fuel efficient hydrogen fuel cell system that will offer up to 20 per cent more cruising range than its current technology.

After entering administration four years ago, scoring a new owner – KG Mobility – in 2022 and launching a rebrand last year, nothing appears to be off the table for KGM SsangYong.

Predictions of a diesel doomsday from auto giant Toyota seem to be ringing true, with 2025 already seeing a dramatic decline in diesel says across all categories, including dual-cab utes and SUVs.

Just what is a “software-defined vehicle”? Why did we start calling electricity “new energy”? And who or what are Xiaomi and Zeekr? A lot of new buzz words and terms have appeared in the car world in 2024 and it’s had all of us scrambling to keep on top of the new lingo. So, that had us thinking: what have been the standout new entries into the car vocabulary in the year that was? Here’s a quick r