Toyota openly doubts the hydrogen car's breakthrough. Yet the Japanese are throwing money and time into a fuel cell that is both cheaper and lighter.
Toyota continues to focus on hydrogen technology and the development of fuel cells for hydrogen vehicles. The car brand has published the first details of its third generation fuel systems.
The new system is expected to be unveiled at the International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo in Tokyo in February, with Toyota promising "significant progress" with the system.
The new fuel cells are expected to be more economical, reportedly due to advances in the design of the cells themselves and the manufacturing process.
Toyota says its latest fuel system is also expected to be more durable, with durability comparable to that found in a diesel engine.
In addition, engineers have worked to improve fuel efficiency, resulting in a 20 percent longer range.
The brand writes this in a press release.
The current Mirai model, Toyota's only hydrogen, has a range of 647 kilometers. At least theoretically. However, that doesn't help the few hydrogen cars in Denmark. All stations have closed down. However, new EU legislation may force them to reopen. Read more about it here.
Toyota says the third-generation fuel system can be used in passenger cars, commercial vehicles, ships, trains and stationary generators. The system is expected to be available after 2026 in North America, Europe, China and Japan.
Since the launch of the Mirai in 2014, Toyota has sold around 28,000 hydrogen cars globally. The Japanese company's fuel system has also been used in buses and generators.
Toyota has been and remains one of the few automakers that continues to invest in hydrogen technology. While other manufacturers focus primarily on electric vehicles, Toyota sees hydrogen as a supplement.
Hydrogen is seen by some as a potential solution and a way to a more sustainable transportation sector. However, it is important to note that there are still challenges associated with the production and distribution of hydrogen.
Toyota continues to develop hydrogen technology and explore various applications. Among other things, the Japanese will help BMW put a series-produced hydrogen car on the road by 2028.
