Tesla is going to launch their version of an electric semi, and to those who are Malaysians, that is speak for electric trucks. Electric may seem to be the way moving forward but that doesn’t stop Toyota from continuing ahead with the use of fuel cell, not just in cars but in trucks as well.
Dubbed as “Project Portal”, Toyota sees the benefits of fuel cell for use by heavy-duty trucks. Using a hydrogen fuel cell system, these trucks which are running a proof-of-concept have zero-emissions and can be refuelled easily and quickly compared to the traditional charging mechanism of battery powered trucks.
“Toyota has led the way in expanding the understanding and adoption of fuel cell technology,” said TMNA Executive Vice President Bob Carter. “From the introduction of the Mirai passenger vehicle to the creation of the heavy-duty fuel cell system in Project Portal, Toyota continues to demonstrate the versatility and scalability of the zero-emission fuel cell powertrain.”
With testing and development miles completed, Project Portal is ready to go to work. Initial feasibility study routes, moving goods from select Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach terminals to surrounding rail yards and warehouses for distribution, will begin on October 23rd.
It’s estimated the truck’s daily trips will total around 321km. These localized, frequent route patterns are designed to test the demanding drayage duty-cycle capabilities of the fuel cell system while capturing real world performance data. As the study progresses, longer haul routes will be introduced. The initial feasibility study operations will be managed by the TMNA Project Portal team, in collaboration with Toyota’s Service Parts Accessories Operations group and its drayage provider, Southern Counties Express (SCE).
The initial feasibility study operations will be managed by the TMNA Project Portal team, in collaboration with Toyota’s Service Parts Accessories Operations group and its drayage provider, Southern Counties Express (SCE).
The Project Portal heavy-duty truck concept generates more than 670 horsepower and 1800Nm of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery, a relatively small battery to support class 8 load operations. The concept’s gross combined weight capacity is 36 tonnes, and its estimated driving range is more than 200 miles per fill, under normal drayage operation.
