A heavy-duty fuel cell electric truck can now refuel in about eight minutes and drive up to 450 miles. Toyota Motor North America recently announced the milestone and new fueling options in Southern California.
Toyota worked with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden, Colorado, to test 70 MPa high-flow fueling under the SAE J2601-5 standard. Toyota reports fill rates up to 300 grams per second, about five times faster than conventional light-duty fueling, bringing heavy-duty refueling time in line with diesel trucks.
Additionally, Toyota sited two temporary hydrogen fueling trailers until it completes a permanent public station at its North American Parts Center California (NAPCC) in Ontario. Logistics fleets plan to use them for trucks hauling between the Port of Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. The permanent station, planned on the same site, will include conventional and high-flow heavy-duty fueling plus a light-duty area.
“Meeting the goal of an eight-minute fill, backed by national lab testing, is the proof point the industry has been working toward,” said Jennifer Hamilton, Operations & Technical Director of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership (H2FCP).
“Putting that capability where freight actually moves is how heavy-duty hydrogen grows from one location to a corridor, and then into a thriving network,” said Bill Elrick, H2FCP Executive Director, who is working with members including Toyota to map out market development.
Toyota also plans to upgrade its Hydrogen Headquarters in Gardena to high-flow fueling in the coming months, and it expects production trucks to begin commercial operations in 2027.
Want to help build what comes next? Learn about H2FCP membership at h2fcp.org/join-us.
