cars news 10: Hydrogen-Powered Toyota Semi-Truck Makes 1,325 LB-FT of Torque

Toyota has revealed its top-secret “Project Portal,” a hydrogen fuel cell system designed for heavy-duty trucks. The goal of the project was to create a zero-emissions solution for the many trucks that deliver goods to and from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The prototype system was revealed today at a press conference held at the Port of Los Angeles, where representatives from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), and port officials were present. Toyota says the system, which is comprised of two Mirai fuel stacks, a 12-kilowatt-hour battery, and a powerful electric motor, produces more than 670 hp and 1,325 lb-ft of torque. The concept has a gross combined weight capacity of 80,000 pounds and an estimated driving range of more than 200 miles per fill under normal drayage operation. Toyota says the hydrogen-powered truck concept has enough torque to fulfill the trucking needs of L.A.’s ports, and its only emission would be water.

“The Port of Los Angeles is excited to collaborate with Toyota to explore the feasibility of fuel cell technology for port drayage operations,” said Tony Gioiello, the Port of Los Angeles’ Deputy Executive Director of Port Development, in a release. “Our port and industry stakeholders have demonstrated their leadership in reducing pollution from port-related operations, and we see the potential of Toyota’s zero-emission heavy-duty truck technology as another solution to meet the long-term goals of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan.”

Toyota gave no timeline for a production version of its prototype fuel cell truck, but given how far along the project is, the automaker could be first to market with a hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck, possibly through its Hino truck division. Nikola, a startup company focused on developing zero-emission trucks, is also working on a fuel cell semi, but it won’t be ready until 2019-2020.

Source: Toyota