In return for a subsidy, the Japanese car manufacturer, Toyota, will develop an H2-powered version of its pick-up Hilux as part of a research programme in England.
While Stellantis announced this summer the extension of its hydrogen offer to the pick-up segment, notably in the United States, one can wonder why Toyota has not made a similar choice. The brand will indeed develop a fuel cell version of the Hilux, but in a very specific context. It has applied to the APC (Advanced Propulsion Centre), an organisation promoting the development of zero emission vehicles in Great Britain. As a result, Toyota will receive an £11 million funding (about $13.4 million) and will lead a consortium made up of the engineering company Ricardo, ETL, D2H and the Thatcham Institute. The project is to integrate the second generation battery currently equipping the Mirai.
One wonders where the innovation lies in all this.
In any case, prototypes of this Toyota Hilux H2 should be assembled next year in England (at the Burnaston, Derbyshire) site which produces the Corolla for the British market. A small series production could follow in the wake of this.
Do you want to learn more about Toyota? You can read our latest article on the topic here.
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Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Logan King
