This summer, what might prove to be one of the world’s cleanest trucks will roll – but not rumble – through the Port of Los Angeles and nearby roadways.
Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) debuted its first zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell-powered semi-truck at the port on April 19 to announce its participation in a feasibility study examining the use of fuel cell technology in heavy-duty applications, according to a statement from the company. The quiet truck’s only emission is water vapor.
This summer, Toyota Motor North America plans to test its first-ever hydrogen fuel cell-powered semi-truck in the Port of Los Angeles and nearby roadways as part of a feasibility study examining the use of fuel cell technology in drayage applications. (Photograph provided by Toyota Motor North America)
The truck “has the power and torque capacity to conduct port drayage operations while emitting nothing but water vapor,” according to a Toyota statement. “The truck generates more than 670 horsepower and 1,325 pound-feet of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12-kilowatt-hour battery, a relatively small battery to support Class 8 load operations,” Toyota’s statement read. The truck uses technology derived from the Toyota Mirai, the company’s first hydrogen-powered car.
“Toyota believes that hydrogen fuel cell technology has tremendous potential to become the powertrain of the future,” TMNA Vice President Bob Carter stated.
“The Port of Los Angeles is excited to collaborate with Toyota to explore the feasibility of fuel cell technology for port drayage operations,” Tony Gioiello, the deputy executive director of port development, stated. “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 for the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan.”