Kenworth, Toyota unveil fuel cell electric truck

The truck is the first of 10 the companies will deploy as part of the ZANZEFF project to haul cargo received at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

   The first fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck (FCET) jointly developed by Toyota and Kenworth was unveiled Monday during a ceremony held at the Port of Los Angeles.
   The truck, which is expected to begin drayage operations in the fourth quarter, is the first of 10 the two companies will deploy as part of the Zero-and-Near Zero Emission Freight Facilities Project (ZANZEFF) to haul cargo received at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach throughout the L.A. Basin. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) awarded $41 million to the Port of Los Angeles for the ZANZEFF project, which has been matched by project partners, as part of California Climate Investments.
   “CARB’s $41 million grant was instrumental in launching this project and putting this innovative technology into our rigorous environment,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka in a statement. “We’re extremely proud of our role as a leading test lab for emerging green technology, helping to pave the way for next-generation, zero-emission technology.”
   The port, Toyota, Kenworth and Shell collaborated on the “shore-to-store” plan, which will help reduce emissions by more than 500 tons of greenhouse gas and .72 weighted tons of nitrogen oxide, ROG and particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter. 
   The FCET utilizes Kenworth’s T680 Class 8 model combined with Toyota’s full cell electric technology. The new generation zero-emission truck offers an estimated range exceeding 300 miles, which is twice that of a typical drayage truck’s average daily duty cycle.
   Toyota Logistics Services will operate four of the trucks, United Parcel Service will operate three, Total Transportation Services Inc. will operate two and Southern Counties Express will operate one.
   “The performance of the 10 Kenworth Class 8 trucks being developed under this program, the first of which debuted today, is targeted to meet or exceed that of a diesel-powered truck, while producing water as the only emissions byproduct,” said Mike Dozier, Kenworth Truck Company general manager and Paccar vice president, in the statement.
   The Project Portal “Alpha” and “Beta” Proof of Concept Class 8 trucks have logged more than 14,000 miles of testing since operations began in April 2017.
   “Toyota has been working in fuel cell electric technology for 20 years,” a Toyota spokesman said Monday in an email to American Shipper. “We started the proof of concept project that led to the ZANZEFF project about four years ago.” 
   The ZANZEFF project also includes two new large-capacity heavy-duty hydrogen fueling stations to be developed by Shell that will join three additional stations at Toyota’s Long Beach Logistics Services and Gardena R&D facilities. The five stations will provide multiple sources of hydrogen throughout the Los Angeles region, including more than one ton of 100 percent renewable energy daily at the Toyota Logistics services station.
   Another phase of the project includes the expanded use of zero-emissions technology in cargo terminal and warehouse environments, including the first two zero-emissions yard tractors at the Port of Hueneme and the expanded use of zero-emissions forklifts at Toyota’s port warehouse.