Today’s Pickup: Toyota’s fuel-cell truck to begin port operation

Good day,

After first acknowledging it was a developing a fuel-cell powered heavy-duty truck in the spring, Toyota is now set to unveil its Project Portal truck to the public through a demonstration program at the Port of Los Angeles that starts Oct. 23.

The hydrogen fuel-cell Class 8 vehicle will run short routes – about 200 miles daily – moving goods from select Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach terminals to surrounding rail yards and warehouses for distribution. Longer routes will be added as the study progresses, Toyota said, adding that the vehicle has successfully completed over 4,000 development miles to date pulling drayage rated cargo weight.

“Toyota has led the way in expanding the understanding and adoption of fuel cell technology,” said Toyota Motor North American Executive Vice President Bob Carter. “From the introduction of the Mirai passenger vehicle to the creation of the heavy-duty fuel cell system in Project Portal, Toyota continues to demonstrate the versatility and scalability of the zero-emission fuel cell powertrain.”

The Project Portal heavy-duty truck concept generates more than 670 horsepower and 1,325 lbs-ft. of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery. The concept’s gross combined weight capacity is 80,000 lbs., and its estimated driving range is more than 200 miles per fill, under normal drayage operation.

Did you know?

Volkswagen CEO Andreas Renschler told Bloomberg that he expects electric trucks making local deliveries will hold about 5% of the market share by 2025.  

Quotable:

“To make the tax system simple and fair, we are going to protect thousands of family businesses by ending the crushing estate tax. We’re going to protect small business owners. The strength of our nation is dependent on the strength of our families.”

– President Donald Trump

In other news:

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Final Thoughts

Toyota has quietly been building a fuel-cell Class 8 truck. It was first announced in the spring, and now the company has said it will enter testing in the Port of L.A. later this month. If successfully, the company will add longer routes to the test cycle and someday, perhaps, a production model for fleets.

Hammer down everyone!