Toyota: Hydrogen cars a ‘compelling, affordable’ alternative to EVs

Toyota Australia is adamant that hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engines (ICE) will offer a more practical and affordable alternative to battery-electric powertrains outside the cities, providing the technology can be commercialised.

Speaking at the launch of the Hydrogen HiAce, which made its world debut in Melbourne last week and is currently undergoing a local pilot program, Toyota Australia’s vice-president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley stressed the importance of offering broader solutions than simply EV powertrains to help reduce carbon emissions as diesel is slowly phased out.

While recognising that electric cars were “fine” for metropolitan areas and even regional cities, Hanley said Toyota was committed to providing an affordable and practical choice for the large numbers of so-called “silent Australians” who live in rural areas, travel long distances and require high load-carrying and towing capabilities.

These include loyal Toyota owners who have for decades purchased models like the HiLux and LandCruiser for work and recreational purposes.

“We at Toyota have always said that BEVs [battery-electric vehicles] aren’t necessarily suitable for everyone at every application in this country,” said Hanley.

“BEVs will suit some people and some countries will adopt them a whole lot quicker because it works.

“But if you want it to do 700km and tow three-and-a-half tonnes, that’s a different matter.

“Therefore you need to be able to give what I call ‘silent Australians’ a choice and now we have yet another technology [hydrogen ICE] that we believe in the future – if it’s commercialised – will give that choice at a very compelling, affordable price.”

The new Toyota HiAce prototype van is fitted with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 – as found in the Toyota LandCruiser overseas (and the Australian-market 300 Series-based Lexus LX 600) – that’s modified to run on compressed hydrogen gas.

Hanley said hydrogen-powered combustion vehicles could deliver a “compelling practical reason and a compelling price reason because whilst BEVs are coming down in price, they’re still quite expensive on the whole”.

“So therefore, it’s deeply important that you offer other solutions,” he said.

Toyota is continuing to invest in petrol-electric, plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) powertrains, and while battery-electric – starting with the Toyota bZ4X due in Australia early next year – is now a key area of focus for the Japanese auto giant, new technologies such as hydrogen ICE are gaining momentum.

According to Hanley, hydrogen ICE brings cost efficiencies through the use of existing technology and economies of scale, while emissions could be almost eliminated with the use of synthetic fuel.

“What we’ve showcased here in a world-first premiere is a hydrogen internal combustion engine alternative,” he said.

“Now whilst that’s not completely zero carbon neutral, it’s 99.8 per cent carbon neutral with 0.2 per cent only coming from the oils.

“This is the start but it’s certainly not the end. It’s in development but what we’re showcasing is our capability. And it also demonstrates that we’re putting a lot of investment, a lot of research, a lot of development into a multitude of different technologies.”

As we’ve reported, Toyota’s global president of hydrogen projects Mitsumasa Yamagata confirmed that light and heavy commercial vehicles and 4×4 off-road SUVs are all on the hit list for hydrogen ICE – and he revealed that a hydrogen-fuelled Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series is under study.

Hanley acknowledged that the biggest hurdle facing hydrogen-powered vehicles, whether ICE or FCEV, is the lack of refuelling infrastructure.

“Of course, the one negative about hydrogen now is infrastructure and to fast-track and accelerate that infrastructure we need to have government, energy companies and car companies come together to start to formulate a plan and a strategy,” he said.

“Because on one hand, energy companies I think are keen to understand and are keen to look at this alternative opportunity, as they will with BEVs no doubt.

“But of course, they need some certainty about what’s coming, what are the plans of the car companies into the future [in order to] … invest in this infrastructure.”