TOYOTA DEMONSTRATES BROAD POTENTIAL OF FCEV TECHNOLOGY AS PART OF HYDROGEN SHOWCASE

April 27, 2023

Toyota Australia is showcasing an innovative fuel cell food truck concept, the FCV Express Diner, as part of a national Hydrogen Showcase that demonstrates a variety of potential applications for its hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Among the fuel cell vehicles on display is the HiAce-based FCV Express Diner concept, a Caetano 33-seat commercial bus, a Toyota forklift, EODev stationary power generator, and the Toyota Mirai sedan, demonstrating the broad applications for fuel-cell technology across a range of industries.

Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer, Vin Naidoo, said the Hydrogen Showcase was a great opportunity to show the benefits and potential of hydrogen fuel-cell technology.

“At Toyota we believe in a diverse approach towards a carbon-neutral future, and we’re committed to hydrogen fuel-cell technology playing a part in that approach,” Mr Naidoo said.

“The Hydrogen Showcase offers a look at some of the exciting vehicles and technologies powered by Toyota fuel cells stacks using powertrains whose only tailpipe emission is water, as well as educating and informing on how this technology can benefit society.”

Designed for use in a variety of situations from street stalls to disaster relief, the FCV Express Diner concept uses the same powertrain as the second-generation Mirai sedan, with two tanks capable of storing 5 kilograms of hydrogen for a driving range of approximately 400km.

The rear of the Toyota HiAce FCV Diner has been fitted out as a mobile kitchen, with five induction cooktops, an oven, rice cooker, fridge, freezer and three sinks with hot and cold water – all powered by the onboard fuel cell.

The FCV Express Diner concept is also able to use its fuel cell to provide electricity for other external power requirements, effectively as a mobile generator.

Toyota will also display a fuel cell bus that is currently available to market in Europe and the UK. The H2.City Gold bus was developed in partnership with Portuguese bus manufacturer CaetanoBus, and utilises the Toyota fuel cell technology as used in the Toyota Mirai.

The H2.City Gold bus stores 37.5kg of hydrogen across five storage tanks and offers a driving range of approximately 450km, with a combined power output of 180kW/2500Nm from the fuel cell stack and batteries.

A Toyota fuel cell forklift will also be on display demonstrating great potential for logistics and warehouse operators. This is a production vehicle available for sale in Japan, and is being trialled in Toyota Australia’s parts warehouses in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Toyota Hydrogen Showcase will also demonstrate other potential applications for hydrogen technology, with a stationary fuel cell power generator.

The generator is manufactured by EODev in France using Toyota fuel cells and sold in Australia through Blue Diamond. Last year, one was used to power the Marvel Stadium sign and a coach’s box during an AFL match.

More recently, an EODev generator was used at the Melbourne Grand Prix to power six marquees in the tech hub over four days.

In addition to having the opportunity to view a range of Toyota fuel cell vehicles and technologies, guests have the opportunity for a short drive in the Toyota Mirai and experience its smooth, silent operation with zero CO₂ tailpipe emissions.

The Hydrogen Showcase kicked off in Melbourne on April 26, and will make stops in Brisbane (4-5 May), Sydney (15-16 May), Canberra (23 May), Adelaide (1-2 June) and Perth (13-14 June).