Toyota and Kenworth have teamed up to release a zero-emissions electric truck that will debut later this month.
According to News Wheel, the Toyota hydrogen fuel cell truck has already completed “4,000 successful development miles” and is scheduled to begin running loads in California on Monday, October 23. The truck will be used to move goods from ports in Long Beach and Los Angeles to inland distribution centers.
The 200 mile per day drayage will test the hydrogen fuel cell’s response to being frequently charged and re-charged, as well as record other real-world performance statistics. Once this data has been collected, longer routes will be introduced to the daily haul.
“Toyota has led the way in expanding the understanding and adoption of fuel cell technology,” said Executive Vice President for Toyota Motor North America Bob Carter.
The Toyota Hydrogen fuel cell truck uses two fuel cells and a 12 kWh battery. These energy sources give the truck 670 horsepower and 1,325 lb-ft of torque with a weight capacity of 80,000 pounds.
The Hydrogen fuel cell truck is the product of Toyota’s collaboration with Kenworth “as the Toyota powertrain resides inside a Kenworth glider,” reported Seeking Alpha.
“Toyota continues to demonstrate the versatility and scalability of the zero-emission fuel cell powertrain,” continued Carter.
The Toyota semi truck emits only water vapor and can go much farther distances on one charge than a normal electric vehicle. Despite these upsides, users of the new Toyota semi truck may still have an issue recharging, as large-scale networks of hydrogen fuel stations are not currently available on America’s freeways.
