Toyota and Scania Partner to Test Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Heavy-Duty Transport
- Toyota Motor Corporation and Scania have announced a partnership to test hydrogen fuel cell technology in heavy-duty transport, according to corporate disclosures released by both companies.
- The initiative integrates Toyota’s advanced hydrogen technology into actual logistics operations managed by selected Scania customers.
- The vehicles in the trial will utilize Toyota’s latest, third-generation fuel cell system.
Toyota Motor Corporation and Scania have announced a partnership to test hydrogen fuel cell technology in heavy-duty transport, according to corporate disclosures released by both companies. The collaboration will deploy 40 heavy-duty vehicles equipped with Toyota’s third-generation fuel cell systems into Scania’s Pilot Partner programme.
Deployment Details and Pilot Programme Timeline
The initiative integrates Toyota’s advanced hydrogen technology into actual logistics operations managed by selected Scania customers. The first Scania hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks will begin operating during the first quarter of 2027. Scania’s Pilot Partner programme brings the manufacturer together with selected customers to evaluate sustainable transport technologies under real-world conditions. The programme assesses technical performance, operational efficiency, and total cost of ownership across applications ranging from city distribution to long-haul transport.
Specifications of Toyota’s Fuel Cell System
The vehicles in the trial will utilize Toyota’s latest, third-generation fuel cell system. This system delivers 300kW of power packaged in a compact design suited for heavy-duty applications and various other use cases. Toyota views hydrogen as a foundational element for achieving carbon neutrality across its business in Europe by 2040. The company’s regional division, Toyota Motor Europe, has been producing second-generation compact fuel cell modules in Europe since January 2022 to meet growing demand. Furthermore, the company maintains a long-term infrastructure vision to establish 700bar as a standard for fuel cell electric vehicles and products.
Executive Perspectives on Hydrogen Transport
Hiroki Nakajima, Executive Vice President at Toyota Motor Corporation, stated: We believe heavy-duty transport is key to building hydrogen demand and infrastructure.
Furthermore, we believe hydrogen is the right solution for demanding heavy-duty applications, where long range, high utilisation and operational efficiency are essential.
Nakajima added that integrating the system into customer logistics marks a significant step toward enabling hydrogen-powered mobility across Europe. Sara Forsberg, Chief Technology Officer at Scania, noted the value of real-world testing through the pilot framework. Forsberg stated: We are pleased to partner with Toyota to explore how fuel cell technology performs in demanding real-world transport operations.
Through our Pilot Partner programme, we work with selected customers to test new technologies in actual use cases, learn from their experience and develop our solutions further.
Forsberg added that the collaboration will provide operational insights into the opportunities and challenges of hydrogen technology in commercial transport.
