It’s not fairly often Toyota decides to decide on Australia to globally reveal a brand new powertrain expertise.

The Japanese carmaker has been engaged on hydrogen-fuelled inside combustion engine (ICE) expertise since 2017 by motorsport, nevertheless it’s now branching out and exploring the expertise’s viability within the demanding business sector.

The Toyota Hydrogen HiAce prototype is a modified 12-seater HiAce Commuter van that can quickly be examined by Australian corporations as a part of a pilot program set to kick off later this month.

Toyota claims hydrogen-fuelled ICE expertise is a low-investment and low-cost strategy to introduce hydrogen because it’s constructing on present internal-combustion engine expertise. It’s additionally claimed to “dramatically cut back” CO₂ tailpipe emissions and have the same refuelling time as conventional petrol- or diesel-fuelled autos.

The corporate says hydrogen-fuelled ICE expertise has a combustion effectivity that’s increased than a petroleum engine and far nearer to a diesel-powered engine. As such, it’s claimed to be greatest fitted to excessive loading and excessive towing use circumstances.

For now, the one catch is hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in Australia is extraordinarily restricted. In Victoria there’s presently only one refuelling station which is owned and operated by Toyota in Altona.

The Japanese carmaker did nonetheless, not too long ago signal a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai, Ampol and Pacific Vitality to develop extra hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in Australia.

Will this type of powertrain expertise discover its toes in Australia? Learn alongside to seek out out.

What’s the Toyota Hydrogen HiAce like on the within?

Strolling as much as the Toyota Hydrogen HiAce prototype, there’s no speedy strategy to distinguish between this and the common HiAce Commuter van aside from the loud livery and blue accents.

For those who look a bit bit nearer nonetheless, there’s a H₂ sticker on the gasoline filler cap which signifies this prototype must be fuelled with hydrogen, and there’s additionally a refined H₂ badge on the tailgate.

Hopping into the Hydrogen HiAce prototype is an identical to the common HiAce. It’s truthful strategy to climb and I’m grateful there’s a step to make this simpler.

When you’re sat within the driver’s seat there’s just one apparent distinction from common HiAce van to this hydrogen-fuelled prototype, which is the strange-looking monitor on high of the dashboard.

This dashboard-mounted monitor is completely crucial because it shows info concerning the stress and temperature of the hydrogen tanks, in addition to how a lot hydrogen is left.

Given this HiAce is an early prototype and certainly not a series-production automobile, there are additionally a number of issues that haven’t been correctly ported over. One among these is the gasoline gauge at all times says it has no gasoline regardless of the tanks having hydrogen in them.

It’s apparent the inside of the Hydrogen HiAce prototype is only a check mattress for this burgeoning powertrain expertise and there’s nonetheless a good strategy to go earlier than it’s commercialised.

Wanting elsewhere across the cabin you’d be hard-pressed to seek out something completely different from the common HiAce Commuter.

The Hydrogen HiAce prototype retains all 12 seats of the common Commuter physique model, in addition to the fully flat ground within the rear passenger compartment.

Similar to up the entrance, there’s solely small distinction between this hydrogen-fuelled prototype and the common HiAce Commuter van.

Proper within the again nook of the Hydrogen HiAce prototype is a cage which accommodates computing {hardware} that information a variety of telematics on the automobile and broadcasts it again to Japan in real-time.

Toyota selected the HiAce because the pilot automobile to check this new hydrogen-fuelled powertrain expertise as a result of it provides the chance to suit the interior combustion engine up entrance, and the three hydrogen tanks below the ground and between the chassis rails.

What’s below the bonnet?

Not like the common Toyota HiAce offered in Australia, which is now solely powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, this hydrogen prototype is powered by a 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 engine modified to run on compressed hydrogen gasoline as an alternative of petrol.

This engine is presently used with petrol within the Lexus LX 600 in Australia, in addition to the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Sequence in different markets. Toyota claims one of many few modifications made to the engine are the injectors, which permit it to run on compressed hydrogen gasoline.

The hydrogen-fuelled V6 engine within the HiAce prototype produces 120kW of energy and 354Nm of torque. That is 185kW and 296Nm lower than its petrol-fuelled counterpart. Drive is distributed to the rear wheels solely by a 10-speed automated transmission.

The interior combustion engine is fed by three hydrogen gasoline tanks just like those used within the present Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell electrical automobile (FCEV). The Mirai has a hydrogen capability of 5.6kg.

Toyota claims the Hydrogen HiAce prototype has a variety of round 200km. For context, the Mirai has an NEDC claimed vary of 650km.

This theoretically means the Hydrogen HiAce prototype consumes 3 times the quantity of hydrogen the Mirai does when driving.

Few different technical particulars are identified concerning the Hydrogen HiAce prototype at this stage, although it does have a 1500kg towing capability and “minimal impression” on payload and inside house.

Toyota claims it’s already engaged on rising the dimensions of the hydrogen storage tanks and bettering combustion, in addition to exploring the potential for including hybrid expertise.

It’s value noting there’s already a petrol-electric hybrid model of the three.4-litre twin-turbo V6 engine within the Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV. This engine could be excellent if Toyota is already seeking to hybridise for its hydrogen-fuelled ICE expertise.

How does the Toyota Hydrogen HiAce drive?

The Toyota Hydrogen HiAce prototype has a unusual startup sequence as a result of reality it’s a prototype automobile.

When beginning up the hydrogen-fuelled van you employ the common key however you have to cease one click on earlier than the automobile turns automobile over because the automobile’s methods have to assess whether or not it’s okay and able to go.

As soon as the automobile is prepared, the dashboard-mounted monitor shows a cute message saying ‘You Can Drive!’. Turning over the engine on this prototype I used to be absolutely anticipating to really feel and listen to the clatter and grumble of the common HiAce’s 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.

What I acquired as an alternative was the silky clean startup of the twin-turbo V6 petrol engine that has been modified to make use of hydrogen. It has a crisp idle sound that’s an identical to its petrol-fuelled counterpart.

When it comes to truly driving of the Hydrogen HiAce prototype, I solely did a number of laps of a check observe on the Toyota Australia Autodrome in Altona, Victoria.

The course itself is a brief easily paved circuit with various pace limits, and the prototype van was fully unladen aside from having three passengers onboard.

Setting off within the Hydrogen HiAce prototype, it’s abundantly clear this automobile continues to be a van. It feels big behind the wheel, although in actuality it’s not any bigger than the common tremendous long-wheelbase diesel-powered HiAce Commuter.

I instantly picked up on extremely mild steering when driving. This made turning and altering route within the hydrogen-fuelled HiAce very easy. The Hydrogen HiAce prototype truly has an electrical power-assisted steering (EPAS) system as an alternative of the common HiAce’s hydraulic energy steering system.

The rationale for that is the prototype’s 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 can’t be mated with a hydraulic energy steering system. What the engineers behind the prototype did as an alternative was alter the EPAS system from a LandCruiser 300 and made it match within the HiAce physique utilizing customized elements.

Regardless of gaining an EPAS system, this hydrogen-fuelled HiAce prototype doesn’t undertake any energetic lane-keep help functionalities that steers you again right into a lane if you happen to drift over a line marking.

Hydraulic energy steering-equipped autos, just like the common HiAce, don’t have the aptitude to have lane-keep help and solely generally have lane departure warning which simply beeps while you go over a marked line on the highway.

It’s value flagging the Hydrogen HiAce prototype is certainly not a pace demon. Its hydrogen-fuelled 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 engine is extraordinarily docile on this software with 120kW and 354Nm.

Cruising at low speeds is when the Hydrogen HiAce prototype feels most comfy. Even then the van doesn’t really feel prefer it has that rather more to offer and as an alternative prefers to be pushed conservatively. Velocity does dial up at a slower-than-expected tempo, however you’ll get to the place you have to go – finally.

Punching the Hydrogen HiAce prototype a bit more durable doesn’t actually encourage confidence. Whenever you do that you’re met an absolute wealth of turbo lag.

Toyota is nicely conscious of this turbo lag and that’s why it’s presently assessing whether or not hybrid expertise might assist enhance low-end torque – I’m certain recalibrating the twin-turbos would additionally help. As soon as you ultimately get out of the turbo lag gap, there isn’t a heap to telephone house about. The engine simply revs and feels prefer it’s begging you to cease.

The hydrogen-fuelled model of this 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 has a redline of 4400rpm, in comparison with the 5200rpm redline of its petrol equal.

Toyota Australia senior supervisor for automobile analysis and rules, Ray Munday, mentioned the hydrogen-fuelled engine can rev increased however there’s no motive to. I assume it’s additionally secure to say it’s higher to err on the facet of warning with high-pressure hydrogen gasoline.

Peak torque for the hydrogen-fuelled engine can also be developed excessive up within the rev vary, just like a non-turbo petrol engine.

One thing that helps hold the van in its torque band as a lot as potential is the 10-speed automated transmission. There are many ratios to select from, although it could generally stumble while you punch the accelerator unexpectedly.

Throughout my drive on the check observe there was a straight part the place I made a decision to attempt a 0-100km/h check. I didn’t have any official timing gear with me, however utilizing a stopwatch I clocked a 0-100km/h dash time of round 20 seconds.

By the point I truly reached 100km/h I wanted to brake fairly closely because the straight was ending very shortly. Given the dearth of the ability, I do know I wouldn’t prefer to get caught behind this automobile with a full load of individuals because it’s merging onto the freeway, for instance.

The hydrogen-fuelled van can also be mentioned to have a braked towing capability of 1500kg, which might doubtless additionally gradual it down significantly.

Lastly I’d like to debate hydrogen consumption. Round 200km of vary on this prototype is perhaps okay for some companies that do quick point-to-point shuttles, however I’m certain they’ll even be making a good variety of journeys again to Altona to refuel.

I look ahead to Toyota with the ability to drop in some bigger hydrogen tanks so the claimed vary determine rises to a degree that’s extra comparable with a equally sized all-electric business van, just like the Peugeot E-Skilled (as much as 350km).

CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota Hydrogen HiAce

To not be too harsh on the Toyota Hydrogen HiAce prototype, however in its present type it’s not very highly effective, doesn’t have very a lot vary, and can doubtless value an arm and a leg if it turns into commercialised.

It’s apparent Toyota’s hydrogen inside combustion engine expertise continues to be in its infancy and I do have to offer the Japanese carmaker credit score for growing one thing exterior of the field. It’s not on a regular basis you get to drive a HiAce with a modified twin-turbo V6 crammed in it.

Regardless of my gripes, I’m genuinely excited to see the place this type of expertise goes over the subsequent 5 to 10 years.

I’m certain there’s a marketplace for this type of high-use, high-load and low-emissions business automobile that may be refuelled in a couple of minutes, nevertheless it may not find yourself being Australia.

The native hydrogen refuelling infrastructure must scale up as a way to make this type of automobile viable, although the very fact this prototype automobile even exists is hopefully a step in the suitable route.

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