Toyota’s new hydrogen truck delivering Coke for Paris 2024 Olympics
Toyota has teamed up with Coca-Cola and Air Liquide to launch a pioneering pilot programme for heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell trucks.
The project aims to showcase the efficiency and viability of hydrogen fuel cell technology in long-haul logistics, pushing the boundaries of sustainable transportation.
The proof-of-concept vehicle is a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain which combines hydrogen and oxygen molecules, generating electricity while emitting nothing but water.
Zero tailpipe emissions
This means zero tailpipe emissions, a significant step towards reducing the carbon footprint of long-haul logistics operations – especially when heavy trucks account for a quarter of climate emissions from road transport in Europe.
Additionally, the system boasts the advantage of fast refuelling, making it highly practical for heavy-duty transport.
Air Liquide supplies the hydrogen for this project, sourced entirely from renewables, meaning the fuel is ‘green hydrogen’.
This collaboration underscores the importance of developing both vehicles and infrastructure simultaneously to build a more sustainable society.
Toyota’s commitment to supporting the decarbonisation of heavy-duty road transport is evident in this project, which aligns with their broader goal of establishing carbon-neutral societies in Europe and beyond.
Hydrogen at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Eric Desbonnets, Vice President of Paris 2024 Operations at Coca-Cola, expressed his enthusiasm, saying: “We are pleased to partner with Toyota and Air Liquide to test hydrogen solutions for our long-distance logistics operations.
“We want to learn from this experience as we continue to work towards reducing our carbon footprint.”
Erwin Penfornis, Vice President of the Hydrogen Energy World Business Line at Air Liquide, added: “Air Liquide shares the same ambition as Coca-Cola and Toyota: implementing concrete solutions to meet the challenge of energy transition.
“This collaborative project will demonstrate the relevance of hydrogen for heavy-duty mobility.”
Thiebault Pacquet, Vice President of R&D at Toyota Motor Europe, highlighted the broader implications, saying: “To help speed up the expansion of hydrogen technology implementation in our society, we are expanding the use of our Toyota Fuel Cell Module beyond passenger cars and into trucks, buses, coaches, trains, boats and stationary generators.”
