Hydrogen-powered Toyota HiAce Prototypes With 200-km Range Begins Pilot Program In Australia

Hydrogen-powered Toyota HiAce Prototype vehicles with 200-km range begins pilot program in Australia.

Prototype HiAce for the pilot program uses modified version of V6 petrol engine available for the Land Cruiser 300 Series.

HiAce was chosen as the vehicle to pilot the new tech as it is often used for short “back to base” commercial operations.

Japanese brand Toyota has unveiled a HiAce prototype with a hydrogen-fuelled internal-combustion engine (ICE) that will undergo a customer pilot program starting in Australia later this month.

According to Toyota, prototypes HiAce will driven in real-world conditions by Australian companies, who are interested in commercial vehicles with ultra-low CO2 tailpipe emissions.

Toyota said the HiAce was chosen as the vehicle to pilot the new technology as it is often used for short “back to base” commercial operations whether as a 12-seat HiAce Commuter bus or HiAce van for delivery operations.

Through this customer drive program and feedback, Toyota will know whether to further the development, with the aim of bringing vehicles powered by hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engines to full commercialisation.

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Speaking on the Australian-first pilot program, Toyota Australia President and CEO Matthew Callachor said that “Toyota Australia is firmly committed to playing a leading role in the development of Australia’s hydrogen economy.

“Running the pilot program for this new hydrogen powertrain technology builds upon our substantial development and investment in the hydrogen space.

“Australia is the perfect place to run such a program with our Federal and State Governments having already committed $6.3 billion in funding for hydrogen projects under the National Hydrogen Strategy,” he said.

The prototype Hydrogen HiAce in the Australian pilot program uses a modified version of the V6 turbo petrol engine available in some overseas markets for the latest-generation Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series.

The engine, modified to run on compressed hydrogen gas, produces 120kW (161 horsepower) and 354Nm of torque. The prototype’s three hydrogen tanks, similar to those used in the second-gen Mirai, allows a range of around 200km.

Toyota said the Hydrogen HiAce pilot program is aimed at fast-tracking the development of the new powertrain that will see a variety of potential customers using the vehicle for either commuter or delivery-type operations.

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