Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has announced its latest deal on hydrogen fuel cell modules with one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, Daimler Truck.
The Toyota second-generation system, TFCM2-F-60, which produces 60kW of power and is easily integrated into the bus roof, will be used in the new Daimler Buses city bus, the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro Range Extender.
TME President and CEO Matt Harrison said that the company was pleased to see that its hydrogen powertrain technology in Europe continues to grow.
The latest cell technology has a significant benefit; it can extend all-electric buses in urban traffic to around 400km for the solo bus and 350km for the articulated versions.
Combining the battery and the fuel cell can eliminate the need for intermediate charging.
Matt Harrison insisted: “Toyota is committed to achieving carbon neutrality, and we believe hydrogen is one of the key building blocks of a future decarbonised society.”
The U.S. Department of Energy says that fuel cell electric vehicles are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and “produce no tailpipe emissions – they only emit water vapour and warm air”.
According to McKinsey’s analysis of the U.S. hydrogen economy, in the ambitious scenario, hydrogen demand could reach 63 million metric tons by 2050. The need for transportation fuel will be a primary force, followed by demand as feedstock in industrial processes like ammonia and methanol production and refining.
According to Toyota, the vision of hydrogen fuel cell technology translates to all passenger cars, heavy-duty trucks, small delivery trucks, boats, and buses.
TME also expands its partnership with more European OMEs to realise its hydrogen vision.
The company said: “Bringing together all types of hydrogen applications around hydrogen infrastructure will support the development of ecosystems where hydrogen mobility can expand further.”