Toyota Motor UK (TMUK) and a consortium of engineering companies including Thatcham Research have joined forces to develop a hydrogen version of Toyota Hilux pick-up.
The project is funded by the UK Government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, the company said. The multi-year project will result in the production of initial vehicle prototypes throughout 2023 at TMUK’s Burnaston site in the UK.
To prepare the Hilux for the UK market, Thatcham Research insurance risk intelligence and engineering expertise will assess the repair and safety implications of any adaptations made to the standard Hilux throughout the design process, the company said. This includes making recommendations for vehicle development to ensure strong passive and active safety performance, while providing early awareness of potential repair challenges.
Insights gathered through the course of the project will form the foundations of future hydrogen vehicle handling and repair training for technical and non-technical automotive sector staff, the company said.
Participation in this project builds on work completed in 2021, when Thatcham Research launched its ‘EV Ready’ training programme, enabling businesses to handle Electric Vehicles safely and efficiently.
“This project is a good example of how [the] Government and the automotive sector can bring innovation and new growth opportunities to the UK motor industry,” said Miller Crockart, chief revenue officer, Thatcham Research.
The company has explained that the increasing pressure within the industry to comply with stringent emissions regulations, reduce environmental impacts and meet changing consumer demands, mean EV sales have grown rapidly. Thatcham Research has also pointed out that over 30 countries have now released hydrogen roadmaps and the industry has announced more than 200 hydrogen projects and ambitious investment plans.
“We are confident that this is a winning combination of companies that can collectively contribute to the hydrogen landscape, supporting new job skills and competencies going forward,” said Richard Kenworthy, Managing Director, Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.