Toyota’s hydrogen-electric V6 HiAce van: Public road testing due next year
Toyota has announced plans to begin public road testing of its hydrogen-electric hybrid HiAce van in Australia next spring.
If successful, this van could become the world’s first commercial vehicle powered by both a hydrogen internal combustion engine and an electric motor, according to Toyota.
The hybrid HiAce, unveiled during a media event in Japan, features a modified V6 turbo petrol engine adapted to run on compressed hydrogen.
Hybrid V6 hydrogen internal combustion engine
Paired with an electric motor, the powertrain boosts the van’s range by 20 percent to 250 km (155+ miles).
Its development belongs to Toyota’s “multi-pathway strategy,” a commitment to offering diverse green vehicle options to suit different customer needs.
From petrol-electric hybrids to hydrogen-powered fuel cells and battery electric vehicles, the Japanese automaker aims to provide a toolkit of solutions for reducing CO2 emissions whilst navigating practical hurdles and real world demands.
The HiAce hybrid is equipped with three hydrogen tanks, similar to those in the second-generation Mirai, stored under the floor to maintain interior space and payload capacity.
This design ensures the van is fit for short “back-to-base” commercial operations, such as transporting goods or commuters.
Toyota’s hydrogen-based society
Acknowledging the challenges of building a hydrogen-based society, Toyota Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima noted that high fuel costs and the limited availability of hydrogen stations have been obstacles for customers.
“We will grit our teeth and persevere to make a hydrogen-based society a reality,” Nakajima said, according to a report by Japanese newspaper Mainichi.
Toyota has been testing hydrogen-engine vehicles in Australia since last year but shifted focus to a hybrid model to better address infrastructure limitations.
By adding the electric motor, the hybrid HiAce balances the immediate constraints of hydrogen technology with the added practicality of extended range, enhancing its appeal to businesses and local fleets.
Toyota began developing hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engines in 2017, testing the technology in motorsport to refine its performance under extreme conditions.
The HiAce’s 3.5-litre V6 engine, adapted for this project, produces near as dammit 161 horsepowers (that’s 120 kW in modern-speak) and 354 Nm of torque.
While the hydrogen combustion process generates small amounts of NOx (due to the minute amount of engine oil used to grease the cylinders), emissions have been minimised to meet stringent Euro 6 standards through a selective catalytic reduction system.
And the name? A missed opportunity to call it the HyAce? Quite possibly.
