Hydrogen 'attractive' for Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series

The new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series due for launch in 2021 could include an electrified hydrogen fuel-cell drivetrain.

Toyota is a big fan of hydrogen to generate electricity and cut emissions, talking up its advantages over battery packs, especially for heavy-duty vehicles such as the legendary LandCruiser off-roader.

The Japanese car-maker has already committed globally to adding electrified versions of its entire line-up by 2025, be it hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric or hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV).

Toyota Australia has taken an exploratory step down the hydrogen road, this week launching the second generation of the Mirai FCEV here despite the lack of refuelling infrastructure.

Just 20 examples of the Camry-sized sedan are being rolled out initially, targeted at business rather than private buyers at a cost of $63,000 over a three-year lease.

But Toyota Australia hopes to have hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles on sale via dealers to the general public within two to three years if the refuelling infrastructure expands enough to permit it.

The all-new 300 Series is expected to launch this year with V6 diesel power, but there’s every chance a hydrogen fuel-cell drivetrain will happen within this generation, which should last at least 10 years.

“We are launching this type of car [Mirai] now, but the potential [to use hydrogen] exists across a range of more heavier vehicles, or light trucks, or trains or buses definitely,” said Toyota Australia product planning chief Rod Ferguson.

Hydrogen tech would be suitable across Toyota’s top-selling range of 4x4xs and big SUVs including the HiLux ute, the Prado wagon and the Kluger crossover, which adds a hybrid in Australia for the first time this year.

Hydrogen offers refuelling time equivalent to petrol and diesel fossil fuels and has an equivalent range. The fuel-cell system also avoids the enormous weight penalty imposed by battery packs.

“It is a technology well-suited to … quick refuelling so I think we are definitely not limited to this type of vehicle but this is what we are launching with,” confirmed Ferguson.

“The quick fuelling and energy density advantages [of hydrogen] are clear. Those two factors alone make it attractive for … heavier vehicle applications.”

All that helps explain why there has been a lot of focus in the automotive industry developing heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles such as trucks and buses. Being route-based, these types of vehicles can also come back to a central depot to refuel.

Privately owned vehicles don’t do that and with only a handful of hydrogen refuelling stations in Australia there is no scope for widespread sales of FCEVs.

Toyota Australia sales and marketing chief Sean Hanley highlighted Toyota Australia’s commitment to meeting the voluntary 2030 automotive industry emissions targets as a motivator to electrify its 4x4 fleet.

Toyota’s heavy-duty petrol and diesel SUV and light commercial range exceeded its target for 2020. Shifting heavy-duty vehicles such as the LandCruiser to zero-emissions hydrogen would help meet it in the future.

An FCEV drivetrain would also better retain the long-range touring, towing and off-road capabilities of LandCruiser and its ilk better than switching to heavier battery packs.

“I don’t have any announcements on LandCrusier, but we know at some point for sure we are going to have to move technologies across our broad range to achieve these [emissions] targets,” said Hanley.

“These are very challenging targets and we still have a big goal in front of us in terms of the light commercial vehicles,” said Hanley.

“We are committed to achieving those goals by 2030 across our full range, so therefore we have never ruled out the expansions of these technologies including hydrogen across the other parts of our brand.”

Hanley made it clear a hydrogen LandCruiser would need to be as capable as the current diesel vehicle is.

“I’ve said it 100 times. LandCruiser is the most important name we have in our brand in this country. It stands for everything that represents Toyota in this country.

“Therefore we would never compromise that vehicle.”