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The Toyota logo is displayed on the vehicle in Poland. The Japanese automotive giant started working on the development of fuel cell vehicles back in 1992.
Artur Vidak | Photography | Getty Images
LONDON – A consortium led by the automotive giant Toyota The UK will receive multi-million funding to develop a hydrogen fuel cell pickup truck
In a statement on Friday, Toyota said a fuel cell-powered prototype of its Hilux pickup will be developed at its plant in Burnaston in England’s East Midlands.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK is leading the consortium, which is receiving £5.7 million (about $7 million) of industry funding and £5.6 million of support from the UK government. Thatcham Research, D2H, ETL and Ricardo are also involved in the project.
Although the initiative is being taken by TMUK, Toyota said “technical support” will come from Toyota Motor Europe R&D.
“Within the scope of the funding bid, the initial prototype Hilux vehicles will be manufactured at Burnaston during 2023,” it added. “Once successful performance results are secured, the aim is to prepare the vehicle for small series production.”
Aerial view of Toyota’s manufacturing plant in Barnston, England. The Japanese automotive giant started working on the development of fuel cell vehicles back in 1992.
David Goddard | Getty Images News | Getty Images
The original version of the Hilux dates back to the 1960s, and many iterations of the vehicle have been developed since then. The UK government said the fuel cell Hilux would be “ideal for use in isolated settings where electric vehicle charging is impractical.”
Friday’s news represents Toyota’s latest move into the sector. The firm began working on the development of fuel-cell vehicles in 1992. In 2014, it launched the Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell sedan.
Along with the Mirai, Toyota has a hand in the development of large hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. These include a bus called Sora and a prototype heavy-duty truck. Along with fuel cells, Toyota is considering using hydrogen in internal combustion engines.
While the business is best known for its hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, it is also trying to move into the increasingly competitive battery-electric market, where companies Tesla And Volkswagen Jogging for position.
This was not without its challenges, and in June 2022, Toyota issued a safety recall for more than 2,000 of its all-electric SUV, the bZ4X.
This image, from 2013, shows a row of Toyota Hilux pickup trucks at a facility in Portugal. The original version of the Hilux dates back to the 1960s, and many iterations of the vehicle have been developed since then.
Mario Proenca | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The company is looking to invest billions in EV battery production, but has also stressed that it will continue to make every effort to “flexibly meet” the needs of customers in all countries and regions by offering multiple powertrains and offering as many options. possible.”
The UK wants to stop selling new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2030. It will require all new cars and vans to have zero-tailpipe emissions from 2035. The European Union – which the UK left on January 31, 2020 – is pursuing similar goals.
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