Manufacturers Partner to Develop Mass-Market Fuel-Cell/Electric Light-Duty Trucks

Isuzu Motors Limited, Toyota Motor Corporation, Hino Motors, Ltd., and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT) have partnered to plan and develop light-duty fuel cell (FC) electric trucks for the mass-market.

The joint initiative is intended to expand customer options and increase the demand for hydrogen. The companies will also promote the introduction and widespread use of FC electric trucks to the market.

FC technology, which runs on high-energy-density hydrogen and has zero CO₂ emissions while driving, is considered effective under conditions common with light-duty truck use.

Light-duty trucks are often used for distribution to supermarkets and convenience stores. In addition to being equipped with refrigeration and freezing functions, they are required to drive long distances over extended hours to perform multiple delivery operations in one day. They must also meet requirements such as fast refueling capability.

CJPT will be responsible for planning the jointly developed mass-market light-duty FC electric trucks. The four companies will mobilize their combined knowledge – Isuzu and Hino truck technology and Toyota FC technology – to design products meeting performance and conditions required for light-duty trucks.

The partnership’s first FC-electric trucks will be introduced after January 2023 and deployed at distribution sites in Fukushima Prefecture and Tokyo social implementation projects.