News: Toyota Moves into the Big Truck Business

Fuel Cell Semi Trucks wih Hino; Also EVs with BYD

Toyota is best-known as the hybrid car company in the U.S., but recent moves show the company’s ambition to move into the realm of big rigs as well as bumping up its all-electric capabilities. Toyota has developed strong links with two partners—Hino, a medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacture that is a part of the Toyota automotive orbit; and BYD, the leading Chinese battery-car maker.

The Hino partnership will focus on building a Class 8 fuel-cell truck, a natural extension of recent projects in California where Toyota retrofitted two Mirai fuel cell stacks into a Class 8 Semi, which was followed by a more extensive demonstration still going on with Kenworth trucks using Toyota fuel cell stacks running in the ports of Los Angeles in drayage operations. The zero emission trucks have a 372-mile range and aim to provide information on how fuel cell trucks could function in normal truck operations.

Toyota has been experimenting with fuel cell vehicles for at least two decades it began offering the Mirai for sale in 2015, primarily in California. The car sold 1,502 units last year, not much of a threat to steal the sales throne from the Camry. Its second generation model goes on sales later this year.

The challenge for hydrogen-powered fuel cells is infrastructure. While stations for light-duty vehicles are increasing (41 are open in California at last count with approximately two dozen more expected during the next year or so), heavy-duty trucks would need dedicated quick-fill stations to make the system work. The quick filling capability and long range of fuel cells give them an advantage compared to the other zero emission alternative, battery electric trucks, which are also just beginning to be deployed in test situations.

The truck for the Hino-Toyota partnership is based on Hinos’ Profia model, a 25-ton cab-over model more typical for Asian or European use. There is no indication of when the truck will be brought into production or whether it will be brought to the U.S., where Hino has a presence. To accommodate the added weight of the hydrogen tanks, the truck has gone through weight reduction and features a specially designed chassis. The fuel cell stacks include a vehicle driving control system designed for use with Hino’s heavy-duty hybrid vehicle technologies. It also will feature new, large-capacity high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks. Like the Mirai, the truck will use a lithium-ion battery for energy storage.

On the Battery Front

Toyota has not been a leader in pure battery electric vehicles, only offering two generations of limited edition RAV4 SUV electrics (Gen. 1 from 1997-2002, 1,484 units; Gen. 2, 2012-14, 2,489 units) to the public while focusing on gas-electric hybrids and one plug-in hybrid (Prius Prime) model. Meanwhile, start-ups like Tesla, whom Toyota invested in and collaborated with on the second generation RAV4 EV, and mainstream competitors like Nissan, Chevrolet and Volkswagen ramped up large-scale EV programs.

Having a full electric vehicle option may not be critical in the U.S. at present, but in China it is critical, so Toyota added another China-based partner specifically for EV development (it currently has joint ventures with China’s FAW Group Corporation and Guangzhou Automobile Group), the EV-focused BYD. The new company formed by Toyota and BYD, a 50-50 joint venture, launches this year and will develop battery electric vehicles from the ground up drawing from BYD’s battery expertise and Toyota’s extensive vehicle manufacturing background. The vehicles developed by the partnership are expected to only be offered in the Chinese market.

For other markets, Toyota has a joint venture with Subaru that will develop an all-new EV platform that will be used by both manufacturers. Subaru’s all-wheel drive technology will be mated with Toyota’s EV expertise. Leveraging the benefit of being one of world’s largest auto companies, Toyota also is working with smaller company Mazda on future vehicle development on electrified vehicles and also dealing with battery giant Panasonic on future EV batteries in addition to the BYD deal. Panasonic is one of Tesla’s partners in the U.S. Gigafactory battery production facility.

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