Toyota to start building truck fuel cell modules in Ky. Camry plant in 2023

Toyota Motor North The us states it will commence in 2023 to manufacture massive “built-in twin gas mobile modules” that will be employed to electric power Course 8 semitractors from a new producing line at its large mild-car assembly plant in Georgetown, Ky. — the similar plant that builds the Toyota Camry and the Lexus ES 350.

The gas mobile modules are “designed to in shape in essentially the similar room” as a identical heavy-responsibility diesel motor in Course 8 semis, a firm spokesman stated. The one,four hundred-pound modules would have the skill to tow roughly forty tons of cargo up to three hundred miles “all whilst demonstrating fantastic drivability, tranquil operation and zero destructive emissions,” David Rosier, Toyota Kentucky powertrain head, stated in a assertion.

Toyota did not disclose if it yet has a truck producing purchaser to buy the gas mobile modules, but stated in a assertion that the modules “carry Toyota’s electrification tactic even more into concentrate as it will let truck manufacturers to incorporate emissions-totally free gas mobile electrical technological know-how into present platforms with the specialized support of Toyota beneath the hood.”

Toyota has been experimenting for many years with hydrogen gas cells, such as introducing the Mirai hydrogen-driven sedan in 2014. It really is also been working a exam fleet of hydrogen-driven trucks at the Port of Lengthy Beach front in California. Though hydrogen gas cells develop zero emissions in their use, emissions are established as hydrogen is manufactured into a gas.

“We’re bringing our confirmed electrical technological know-how to a whole new class of creation vehicles,” Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota Motor North The us, stated in the assertion. “Weighty-responsibility truck manufacturers will be able to purchase a fully built-in and validated gas mobile electrical travel program, allowing them to present their consumers an emissions-totally free selection in the Course 8 heavy-responsibility phase.”

Toyota declined to disclose no matter if the new producing line would have any effects on employment at the Georgetown plant, or no matter if any new financial investment would be concerned. The plant just lately dropped one particular of its products and solutions when Toyota declared that it would conclude creation of the Avalon sedan just after the 2022 model 12 months.

The Japanese automaker stated it will display screen the gas mobile modules at the 2021 Sophisticated Clear Transportation (ACT) Expo in Lengthy Beach front future week. The display screen will also consist of a prototype truck driven by the Toyota Fuel Mobile package.