The new truck, known internally as “Beta” expands on the capabilities of Toyota’s first test vehicle by increasing the estimated range to more than 300 miles per fill.
“By evaluating the first truck in our test facilities and on the actual roads in the LA area, we made a list of improvements for the Beta truck build process and performance enhancements,” said Andrew Lund, Chief Engineer for the project.
“We needed to move beyond a proof of concept, which the first truck accomplished, to something that is not only better than the original but is also more commercially viable.”
Zero emissions
Since it first began operation in April 2017, Toyota’s “Alpha” truck has logged nearly 10,000 miles of testing and real-world drayage operations in and around the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles while emitting nothing but water vapour.
With a gross combined weight capacity of 80,000 lbs and a driving range of more than 200 miles per fill, the 670-plus horsepower the Alpha truck produces 1,325 pound-feet of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery.
Project Portal Beta maintains these torque and horsepower numbers while also extending the range of the vehicle and pushing forward on other key performance metrics.
The Beta vehicle will begin drayage operations in the autumn, increasing the ports’ zero emission trucking capacity and further reducing the environmental impact of drayage operations.
Going forward, Toyota said it remains committed to supporting the development of a consumer-facing hydrogen infrastructure to realise the potential of fuel cell vehicles.
This project is a continuation of Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050 efforts to eliminate CO2 emissions from its Toyota Logistics facility at the Port of Long Beach.
Toyota has previously announced the construction of the Tri-Gen facility which will be the first megawatt-sized carbonate fuel cell power generation plant with hydrogen fueling in the world. The 100% renewable plant will use agricultural waste to generate water, electricity and hydrogen that will support Toyota Logistics Services’ (TLS) operations at the Port of Long Beach.