The future of lower-emission transport is unlikely to depend on one technology alone. While battery-electric vehicles are already transforming many journeys, hydrogen fuel cell technology could have an important role in heavy-duty transport, where range, payload, rapid refuelling and limited downtime are essential.
Toyota Motor Europe has now outlined the next stage of its hydrogen strategy, combining advances in fuel cell technology with new commercial vehicle partnerships and further work to develop the infrastructure required to support hydrogen mobility.
The announcement at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover demonstrates how Toyota is moving beyond individual vehicle trials towards a broader hydrogen ecosystem.
Fuel cell technology developed for commercial transport
At the heart of Toyota’s plans is its third-generation fuel cell system, developed specifically for commercial applications.
Compared with the previous generation, Toyota says the new system delivers twice the output, twice the durability and 20 per cent better fuel efficiency, while also offering a significant reduction in cost.
These improvements are intended to bring fuel cell trucks closer to the performance and operating requirements of conventional diesel fleets while producing no harmful tailpipe emissions.
For businesses operating long-distance or high-use vehicles, hydrogen could provide particular advantages. Fuel cell vehicles can offer extended driving ranges and shorter refuelling times while retaining the payload and operational flexibility required by heavy-duty transport.
Real-world testing with Scania
Toyota will supply its third-generation fuel cell systems for 40 heavy-duty vehicles as part of Scania’s Pilot Partner programme.
The vehicles will use Toyota’s compact 300kW fuel cell system, which has been designed for demanding heavy-duty applications.
The first trucks are expected to begin operating during the first quarter of 2027. Their deployment will allow Toyota and Scania to gather real-world information about vehicle performance, operational efficiency and total cost of ownership across long-distance and high-use transport operations.
Rather than remaining demonstration vehicles, the trucks will operate in genuine commercial environments where the technology can be assessed against the everyday demands faced by transport businesses.
New fuel cell trucks with IVECO
Toyota is also working with IVECO through EMPOWER, an EU-funded Horizon Europe project focused on zero-emission heavy-duty transport.
Toyota will provide the fuel cell technology, while IVECO will lead the development, integration and validation of the vehicles.
The resulting IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell will use Toyota fuel cell systems producing a combined output of 300kW. It is being designed to provide a driving range of more than 560 miles, or 900km, together with durability exceeding 25,000 operating hours.
Validation is scheduled to begin during the final quarter of 2026, followed by on-road trials during the first half of 2027.
Motorsport provides another demanding test
Toyota has long used motorsport to accelerate the development of new technology. Since 2017, it has tested hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines in competition to improve their performance, efficiency and reliability.
Toyota Gazoo Racing plans to take this work further in 2027 by entering a fuel cell Hilux in the Dakar Rally’s Future Mission 1000 category.
The extreme conditions of the Dakar Rally will provide another opportunity to evaluate fuel cell technology in a demanding environment, where durability, range and reliability are vital.
Toyota is also targeting the launch of a Hilux Fuel Cell in 2028. The proposed vehicle is being developed with a target driving range of more than 248 miles, or 400km, and a towing capacity of up to 2.5 tonnes.
These vehicles remain part of Toyota’s future development programme and are not currently available through SCC Toyota.
Vehicles are only part of the picture
Toyota recognises that developing fuel cell vehicles alone will not be enough to make hydrogen mobility viable on a wider scale.
Refuelling infrastructure, hydrogen production, customer demand and supportive policy frameworks will all need to develop alongside the vehicles themselves.
Projects in Germany and the Netherlands are already exploring how vehicle deployment and refuelling infrastructure can progress together. Toyota intends to support this work by collaborating with organisations throughout the hydrogen supply chain.
The company has also signed an agreement to become an equal shareholder in cellcentric alongside the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG. Subject to regulatory approval, the partnership is intended to strengthen cellcentric’s development and production of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty commercial applications.
A multi-pathway approach to future mobility
Toyota views hydrogen as one part of its wider multi-pathway approach to carbon neutrality.
Different drivers, businesses and transport sectors have different requirements. Battery-electric power may be particularly suitable for some journeys, while hybrid, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen technologies could each play a role in other applications.
For businesses across Somerset and Devon, Toyota’s latest announcements provide an insight into how commercial transport could evolve over the coming years.
The vehicles involved are currently part of development, trial and validation programmes, but the scale of Toyota’s partnerships shows that hydrogen fuel cell technology is moving closer to real-world heavy-duty use.
SCC Toyota will continue to follow Toyota’s progress across hydrogen, battery-electric and hybrid technology as the company develops solutions for a more sustainable and diverse transport future.
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