Toyota is leading a consortium in developing a hydrogen-powered Hilux pickup at the manufacturer’s UK vehicle plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire.
Toyota has successfully secured £11.3 million of funding for the project — £5.6m from the UK government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and £5.7m from industry — through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), an organisation supporting the development of cleaner technologies and new mobility concepts.
The consortium, led by Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK), will receive funding to enable TMUK to develop hydrogen technologies for the commercial vehicle market over the next three years. The funding specifically covers the later-stage research and development that progresses a product from proof-of-concept to a prototype vehicle.
Working in collaboration with UK-based technical engineering partners Ricardo, ETL, D2H and Thatcham Research, the project will use components from Toyota’s second-generation fuel cell system featured in the Mirai saloon. While TMUK is leading the project, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) R&D will provide technical support to help the UK-based teams to build their expertise and become self-sufficient in developing next-generation hydrogen drivetrain technologies.
The APC is a non-profit organisation working with the UK Government, the automotive industry and academic bodies to accelerate the industrialisation of technologies to support the transition to net-zero vehicles. It offers opportunities to bridge the gap between industry and future technological requirements and aims to help achieve significant change in the industry, creating commercial and strategic outcomes that benefit the UK.
Toyota promotes a multi-technology path towards carbon neutrality, offering a diverse range of electrified technologies, including hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, battery electric and fuel cell electric, to meet different mobility requirements. Establishing a successful hydrogen transport sector is essential to achieving this goal.
Toyota will produce the initial prototype hydrogen Hilux vehicles at Burnaston in 2023. Once performance testing has been completed, the pickup will be prepared for small series production.
“The opportunity that this funding enables is significant and goes towards developing the technical capabilities not only of our employees here at our site in Burnaston in the East Midlands but also of those within the wider consortium partners,” commented Richard Kenworthy, TMUK managing director. “This region is heavily committed to supporting zero emissions mobility and we see this project as a great opportunity to contribute to the critical path on the road to carbon zero mobility. This UK Government funding will enable teams within the consortium to acquire key skills that can then be used to investigate other fuel cell applications.”
Matt Harrison, Toyota Motor Europe president and CEO, added: “The UK is one of the key markets for pickup trucks and an important market for Toyota. This funding represents a tremendous opportunity to develop a zero emission solution in a critical market segment. We would like to thank the UK Government for the funding that will enable the consortium to investigate the development of a fuel cell powertrain for the Toyota Hilux, supporting our carbon neutrality ambition.”
Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Our automotive industry is a world-leader, creating jobs whether in Essex, Somerset or Glasgow. Seizing the potential from new technologies will be a key part of its future success, while also making our roads cleaner, greener and more affordable. Today’s multi-million-pound boost – created by government working hand-in-hand with industry – will put these firms in pole position to pioneer these innovations, staying at the cutting edge of the global race for decades to come.”
Hydrogen Hilux Consortium Members
Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK produces the Corolla Hatchback, Touring Sports and Commercial models at its production centre in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and hybrid engines at its Deeside, North Wales facility. TMUK began production in 1992 as Toyota’s first fully-owned manufacturing business in Europe. Toyota has invested more than £2.75 billion in its UK manufacturing operations and employs more than 3,000 people.
Ricardo is a global strategic engineering and environmental consultancy specialising in the transport, energy and scarce resources sectors. It will support the technical integration of the fuel cell components into the Hilux chassis.
ETL is committed to delivering high-integrity thermal solutions through excellence in design and innovation
The D2H
group of companies provides high-technology engineering services in simulation, modelling, aerodynamics, thermodynamics and design for motorsport and other high-performance industries. Its thermodynamic expertise will be crucial to the project.
Thatcham Research was established by the UK’s motor insurance industry in 1969 to contain or reduce the cost of motor insurance claims while maintaining safety standards.
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